Marc on Christmas and Family

Ed, I agree with you on the comments that you made about expectations. For whatever reason, people expect that Christmas needs to be "awesome", and the additional pressure can affect everyone's mentality going into it.

I don't know what it is about Christmas itself. It must be the memories that we all have from our childhoods, the fond memories of getting all those presents and how wonderful it all seemed. We want to experience those same joys at Christmas time, but I think that as adults, we realize the fleeting joy of things. As a result, we hope to find that same thrill in our family relationships. We want that ON CHRISTMAS, not in February, not over Independence weekend, and not at Halloween. There is something special about that time that we call Christmas.

We all know that much stress can come from the physical limitation of living in these bodies that we have; we can only be one place at one time. Given the opportunity, I'm sure that we would all choose to see everyone that is important to us on December 25th. But we can't do it. That leads to choices, and although a million factors can affect those choices. Unfortunately, the choice of where to be on Christmas can be viewed as a pick based on priority or importance. But that's not the case. The location where we end up on Christmas can never sum up the value that we place on a relationship, especially familial relationships.

Perhaps one of the greatest mistakes that we make (and I'm guilty of it too) is that we expect that all familial relationships should be hunky dory all the time. In reality, we all get on each other's nerves occasionally, and conflict is inevitable in the human experience. When we love people, we expect more. And as you mentioned Ed, when we have higher expectations, there is a greater opportunity for a "let down" or a failure.

If we learned anything from our Mom and Dad it's that family is family. We've all expanded that into our "married in" families as well. We talk about each other, we laugh at each other, we argue with each other, but we're still family. And we still get together over the holidays because we're family.

It's late on Christmas eve and here I sit in San Diego at least a thousand miles away from all of you, and I wish I was going to see you tomorrow. I love my family here too, and I'm happy to be with them. Guess what? We have the same issues on this half of the family. There's always drama, always some conflict, always some disappointments. But in the end, there is joy. Joy in the fact that we have family, people who we love despite their faults, and who love us despite all of our faults.

Have a Merry Christmas and remember that regardless of expectations or anything else, I don't think I've ever left a family get together without some fond memories, and over time, those are the ones I remember, not the bad ones. Blood is thicker than water. I love you guys, and you'll always be family.

Well, the Christmas break has finally arrived for me.

I wanted to post something here since I believe that our first posts on this blog related to New Years resolutions. No, I'm not going to share my resolutions for two reasons: (1) I don't yet have any; and (2) When I do create them they will probably be no more profound or worthy of reading than anyone else's resolutions. So, sorry to disappoint.

Instead, I wanted to post a blog about one thing that consumes most of our communications during this time of year. And perhaps one of those things we have blogged about the most ... No, not Favre (although that's another good idea) Nope, I'm talking about that most glorious of topics - one's FAMILY.

Family gets a lot of play during the holidays. Spending time with your family, particularly extended family, is something that's both cherished and cursed. The idea of spending the holidays with FAMILY is a challenging one for several reasons. First, there are big expectations. Big expectations lead to disappointment. And disappointment leads to the thought that "I'm not doing that again". But the holidays come again next year and spending time with family (especially given the expectations) is a hard habit to break. So we endure another season of a house full of FAMILY, small talk, and somewhat anxious and awkward conversations so as not to be a catalyst for a cataclysmic conflict or argument during the most sacred of holidays. Am I right?

One of my favorite movies depicting such frivolity is Chevy Chase's Christmas Vacation. There is no greater source for making you feel good about the family you have! It's funny and refreshing that Clark Griswold remains committed to his idyllic vision of "how Christmas should be" through all the trials and tribulations of the movie. One of largest of his trials to overcome ... that's right ... FAMILY!

Now I've been a bit negative about family get togethers so far in this post, and it's really a bit unjust.

Truthfully I believe most people really do enjoy seeing their families, spending time with loved ones, and recounting the greatest memories of Christmas pasts. Maybe enjoying a little sledding, eating and drinking too much, and relaxing with those who know us the best (good and bad!) Quite frankly, given the alternative of a Christmas alone I believe most would gladly elect to be spending time with a house full of FAMILY and would elect it again and again each year.

But the travel, the possible family conflicts, the awkward sleeping arrangements, the I-can't-believe-he-got-me-this presents, and the quirks of our individual family members sometimes get blown out of proportion. Never more true than during the holidays.

So I'm taking a positive and optimistic approach to this year's family get togethers. Yes, the basis for them is a bit trying but I'm going to put my best foot forward. It's a fabulous time of year and I'm thankful. Thankful for the many blessings I have in my life. And one of those blessings I'm most thankful for is ... FAMILY!

Merry Christmas!

My new life

This morning after getting myself ready for work and waiting for Sasha to wake up, I decided to open and put away the stuff from our most recent diapers.com order. This tower of pee and poop sucking up materials represents the building blocks of life with a 2 year old and an infant. Wow.

Specs on the rotary girder...uh snowblower

As requested, the specs on my bad boy snowblower are...

179 cc/4 cycle engine (note: they don't rate snowblowers by horsepower, only CCs. This happens to be one of Dad's favorite rants, just ask him about it sometime and be ready to be entertained!)

2 stage, 8 speed (6 forward, 2 reverse). 24 inch wide path, 21 inch high intake. Electric start. 12 inch serrated auger and 12 inch impeller (they tell me that is to break up chunks of ice). 190 degree chute rotation, because you know 180 degrees just isn't good enough.

And the most important update of all...no accumulated snow since the purchase.

Marc: Not in the Club

Brad, you're a better man than me. I would have bought a snow blower the day I moved into your house. It's a corner lot (lots of sidewalk) and your driveway is almost big enough to host a college basketball game. I'm surprised that it took you this long to get one. But then again, I'm not so sure.

I don't know what it is, but I LOVE to shovel snow. I can't explain it and I don't have the slightest idea of how I might have acquired this sickness. I just love it.

You guys probably remember that we lived in a townhouse when we were here before and now we're in a similar situation. Our association includes snow removal, but after talking that over with my neighbors, "removal" must be used pretty loosely. They apparently don't do much of anything, but that's okay with me. When we were here before, I would often shovel my walk, my driveway, the sidewalks of my two neighbors, and a parking spot or two across the street (it was community parking). Admittedly, when you live in a townhouse, the length of your sidewalk added to that of three of your neighbors probably doesn't equal your sidewalk Brad. But considering the fact that my current neighbors are a couple in their 80's and two divorced women with two teenage daughters, I'll probably be doing a lot of shoveling here too. I bought a shovel a couple of weeks ago and I am ready to go!

There are also some good hills here near my house so I'm looking forward to some sledding this year. I have seldom done it in the last 5-10 years but i love it… still need to buy a sled though.

Ed on I'm in the Club

Congratulations Brad. I'm pleased to say that I'm NOT in the club.

There are a couple of reasons why I'm pleased to say that. (1) Of the three of us, I live the farthest South. Now I know KC isn't exactly San Antonio in December, but it is noticeably warmer and generally gets significantly less snowfall than Iowa or Maryland. Now who's the level headed one? (2) I need the exercise more than you two do! But I'm also getting old so a 2-4 inch snow fall a half dozen times a year is plenty for my workout regimen - and I use "workout regimen" very loosely. I'm possibly one of the youngest people I know that can be sore the next day from picking up a laundry basket full of clothes and carrying it up the stairs!

Brad, I'm interested in some more specs on your snow blower. Looks impressive whether it gets fired up or not! One of those enviable "tools" that men love to google over. It's a great conversation piece, you know "what's the horsepower, maximum throw distance, revolutions per minute, and gear ratio? Oh yeah!

And I appreciate you doing what you can to keep old man winter from dumping snow into the Midwest. I only hope you aren't sending it South. You'll be firing that bad boy up even if it doesn't snow just so the neighbors can hear the throaty, roaring, snow eating machine. Only one catch ... instead of doing just your driveway and walk, you'll be doing two or three times that. After all, you're the one who has the machine and have been talking all winter about "wanting to get it out and use it!"

I'm in the club

2 horrendous Iowa winters and 2 small children later, I have officially joined the club...the snowblower owners club. When we built and moved into our new house 2 winters ago, I had the following set of thoughts: 1 - I need to exercise. 2 - I need to clear the snow. Why not kill two birds with one stone.

Then we built a house with 320 feet of sidewalk and a long, wide driveway...

Then we had two kids...

Then we had two of the largest snowfall accumulations in recorded history...

So I suffered my way through the last two winters saying that when the snowblowers went on clearance in the spring I would buy one. I'd debate the options of a single stage, dual stage, or blade for my lawn tractor with my father, my friend Nathan, and my wife. I'd come to a tentative conclusion on the best choice for me.

Then Spring would arrive. My back would feel better and I'd look at pricesof a snowblower and decide it wasn't necessary. After all I made it through this winter right?!?!

Then winter would arrive and I'd go through another season of grumbling about a sore back and all the snow I have to move. (Side note: I do realize that you can buy a snowblower at other times of the year, and as such you could file this story under "Dumb Things We Do".)

So now I have purchased a snowblower just like the one pictured. And much like purchasing a snowmobile, by buying a snowblower I have virtually guaranteed low/no snowfalls for the foreseeable future. Dad says that is money well spent!