Life- before St Louis trip

How is it almost spring break already? I feel like we just hit Christmas, but life has flown by in the last three months. Levi's done a few chess tournaments and a recital and a talent show. Naomi's not changed all that much. 

A loaded April awaits, but tomorrow we leave for St Louis and our spring break trip. This one is more "St Louis and the surrounding area" trip. We're staying in Brentwood, which is a suburb. I'm jazzed to get out of town and given the TSA difficulties, glad we're driving. It's a long trip, but this is the third straight year we've gone 5+ hours on spring break.

Currently reading Project Hail Mary, since we want to see the movie. I really enjoy it. It's nice to read something more fast-paced.

On OOTP, I'm managing the 2018 Brewers. I always like to do teams that didn't quite get there, and the Brewers exemplify that. This is mostly a sim deal. I'm not managing every game. 

Life/Colonoscopy

I had my colonoscopy on Wednesday, and honestly, it probably was a good thing. I had to do the low-fiber diet on Sunday and Monday, which was not a big deal. I just had to cut out a few things. The liquid diet was not that disruptive either. I had a lot of jello and apple juice and didn't feel too bad.

The prep? It wasn't my favorite thing to do, but it really didn't taste like anything. More accurately, it tasted like nothing with a hint of lemon. I didn't have any trouble finishing my doses. Only at the very end did I get sick of it, and by then what was coming out of me looked as it should. I got enough rest and honestly, the quiet of the early morning was kind of nice. No kids to bother me while I read or played on my tablet.

The doctor's office was running a bit behind, so I waited for quite a while. The beds were lined up outside the procedure room and it reminded me of Pink Floyd's "On The Run" video, where a hospital bed substitutes for an airplane. I was on the runway for quite a bit before I finally got wheeled in.

The room was smaller than I thought it was going to be. It was slightly larger than a standard exam room. I turned over on my side and the anesthesiologist let me know he was starting the meds. I barely had a chance to get a word out before I lost consciousness.

I woke up to Sarah back in the waiting room. It felt like I was out for a long time, but it was only 20 or so minutes. I recombobulated and we headed out to Zebb's for a nice lunch. A Monte Cristo for me. It was nice to connect with my lovebug, but afterwards I just felt like resting, which is what I did. Sounds like another 10 years before I have to do this again. Wonder if it'll be the same technology then. 

Left To Our Own Devices (Overstimulated)

We're all overstimulated
Our brains in cyberspace but with no particular destination
Floating, eyes flitting, thumbs flicking our social media feeds
We can't even watch TV without the second screen
I took my book everywhere when I was eight
Now I can't even wait at the grocery store
My hand reaches for my pocket
Looks like I have a minute
For an information drip

We can get notifications for anything

Severe weather alerts, our children's schools

But these tools get buried

Under a million others

The phone buzzes

Get 10% off your next order

Gzzzz

The latest celebrity death

Gzzzzz

What can the Vikings do at quarterback?

I can't say this without feeling old

I long for the days 

Where no one knew where I was

If I wasn't home

Where I didn't feel panic for not checking my phone

V2

Zombie time

The kids walk in the door

Or ring it a dozen times if it's locked

They throw their shoes in the closet

They might say hello

But then it's screen time

Screen time

If it's not TV, it's video games

Or a tablet

Mom stares at her phone and giggles at memes

Dad isn't sure what to do with himself

Three other people's faces lighting up

He can't give in and join

He feels resentment

Mom seems OK with them staring and nearly drooling

Sometimes doesn't seem to want to engage

He has to be the one to break the spell

Off the screens, off the screens

But Dad, when can we go back on?

If I had my way, I'd keep your devices

You'd have to go through me to get them back

Mom laughs at a video

His daughter asks his son what game she's playing

He doesn't hear with his headphones on

Dad wanders around looking for something to do

June 2035

I imagined yesterday
The night before your graduation
As we prepared for the celebration
The memories that we'd share

I remember being terrified

The night you were born

And Grandma said it was time for her to go

Mom, you and me, a family

How do we take care of you?

That night was no worry, as you slept soundly

The journey had worn you out

Sometimes life hits the fast-forward button

The diapers, the crawling, the walking, the running

Soon you had a sister

Baby Omi

Number blocks and Lankybox

You taught yourself math and got curious

Super Bowl Week- 2020

For Super Bowl week, we use TSB to simulate past seasons.

2020

Entering Wk 17:

AFC

Buf 15-0!

Mia 9-6

Cle 12-3

Bal 10-5

Ind 11-4

LAC 12-3

KC 9-6

BYE Buffalo 16-0

BYE CLE  13-3 +117

3 LAC 13-3  +84

4 IND 12-4 +123

5 BAL 10-6 +45

6 KC 9-7 +101

ITH: MIA 9-6 +29 (eliminated)

NFC

WAS 12-3

GB 9-5-1 

CHI 8-7

NO 10-5 +79

TB 10-5 +38

SF 10-5 +27

ARI 9-6

BYE WAS 13-3

BYE NO 11-5 +89

3 SF 11-5 +70

4 GB 10-5-1 +88

WC TB 11-5 +45

WC ARI 9-7

Life

I feel off today. Just overly tired, I think. I didn't realize how much work it would be to do the whole weekend (minus Sunday afternoon) myself. I'd kind of dreaded the sleepover on Saturday, having not really talked to Zavie beyond saying hi. But I pretty much let them be on their tablets. I mean, that's what sleepovers even meant for us back in the day. We'd play Nintendo for hours into the early morning and the only time we saw our or other parents was to eat a meal. 

So Zavie's a cool kid. And he and Levi are two like souls, silly and goofy. I saw Levi dancing while we were playing Monopoly, which is an extremely rare sight. I think he's self conscious, which his sister is definitely not. 

But I just feel like my sinuses hurt a lot and I feel exhausted, and when I feel very tired I'm prone to getting sick. Kind of felt that way yesterday afternoon after getting back from taking kids to KFC at church. Felt sluggish in the pool, like I didn't want to move. 

Better sleep tonight will help. I survived, as I always do.

Grandpa's House (V1)

 

We’d arrive at Grandpa’s on Friday night

Pulling into the driveway and seeing the living room light

Our cousins eyes filled with delight

Some Aurelio’s pizza and 50/50 and then off to play

Or create art for the picture sale

Aunt Lori would tell the girls to get in their jammies

Grandpa’s house meant Christmas, but not only Christmas

Downtown on Christmas Eve

Two level bookstores and escalators galore

Seeing Grandpa behind the counter at Carson’s with Judy

Waiting not so patiently for Dad to get the car

Opening one gift that night

Getting dressed and the drive to Ruth’s

With Dad’s Christmas mix in the cassette player

How was that all one day

Lasagna and laughter

The church service after

And a Greek restaurant

Eyes straining to keep open

The skies always shaded red on the way back

Did Santa already arrive

But no, we hustled to bed and fast asleep

Seven or eight we’d crack the door and peep

All the presents that he delivered

By ten they’d all be in a pile

It wasn’t just Christmas, that place

Mischief, the terrifying cat

I once left the TV on the Playboy channel

Trying to see things through the scramble

It was Grandpa yelling “GET OUT OF MY CHAIR!”

Sending his grandchildren running everywhere

It was everything to us and then it was gone