The New Rules

It's been a few days since I've written, and I'm here to tell you why. For the last few years (actually the entire time Chelsey and I have been married) our house has been a mess. We seem to create clutter very quickly, sometimes just seconds after a mess has been picked up. As some people can identify with, all of our surfaces have things on them. So this last weekend Chelsey finally got fed up with it all, and she created some new rules. Rule number one is that we can only eat in the kitchen so we won't drop things for Lucy to pick up and swallow as she rolls around our living room. Rule number two is that our computers can only be used in our bedroom or the guest room. This rule was designed to eliminate extra clutter, but I know it was really designed so that Lucy wouldn't learn it's okay to sit down for hours playing Scramble or Mob Wars. These two main rules really were hard to live with, and like my students, I tried to test the waters to see if Chelsey was just bluffing. I even complained to her about how it's not practical or "fair." But the reality is that we've eaten at the table every night, we spend even more time interacting with Lucy and sometimes Franklin, and our house is clean. Secretly I really like the rules although I won't admit that to Chelsey.
And the reason I haven't written is because I'm too lazy to get off the couch to update the blog in the other room.

My Favorite Day of the Year

Now that my blog has such a big following, I thought I'd share my favorite day of the year with everyone. It was yesterday, or rather the "Fall Back" day each year. This is not like my fake worst day of the year, Ground Hog's Day. I always say it's my least favorite, but I actually don't mind it and I don't really believe Puxatony Phil's forecast. My real worst day is probably July 20th or some other 110 degree day. But I'm getting off topic.
My favorite day is the longest day of the year. I can get so much done before 12 noon, and still have time to watch football. Take yesterday for example. I woke up at 7:15 and fed Lucy. Then the family went on a walk. This was a real treat. Even with a trip to school and Savemart, I was able to get home before noon to relax. The never-ending day continued with a nap with Lucy until about 4:00. No, we did not complete or even come close to completing Chelsey's to-do list, but it was a very relaxing day. And after hours and hours of "Fall Back" excitement, I finally went to sleep at a very reasonable hour.
My point to the story is this is my absolute favorite time of the year and I wish there were 25 hours in every day. And to all my avid followers out there wanting to know about the garden, there are flowers on the pea plants and one of the red onion bulbs is coming up!

Writing My Blog

When I got my bachelor's degree from San Diego State, one of my felloow classamates made a speech at the graduation ceremony that basically described how nervous she was to make the speech, what she thought when she was asked to speak, and how she was feeling as she was speaking. I think she even talked about how she decided what to wear under her gown, but I don't recall anything of substance in her speech. I'm not going to go down that road tonight, but I will say (and Chelsey can attest) it took me a while to be able to figure out how to create my next post. It was a challenge just getting to this point.

What I will write about is a transformation that's subtly taking place in me since Lucy's birth last March. She's 7 months old last Thursday by the way. I started thinking about these changes during a converstaion with Geoff and Linda, our neighbors, about how Sunday is my favorite day of the week. I like it because Chelsey, Lucy, and I stay home and do things around the house together. I like the time together, and I like getting things done before the week starts. In the past, I would have been glued to my computer watching fantasy football, or wanting to go do something else. Now I'm perfectly content at home. In fact, if I was doing something else, I'd feel like I was missing out on time with the family. This isn't a big deal. What is a big deal though is that I'm willing to be a dork in public now. Aside from wearing Chelsey's pink and green diaper bag around, I've also allowed myself to dress terribly in public. This summer, Chelsey got me a Snoopy shirt that says One Cool Daddy-O. She told me Lucy wanted me to wear it. The next thing I knew, we were shopping in trendy stores in San Francisco, and I was wearing the Snoopy shirt. Part of me realized what a dork I was, but I didn't care. That's the kind of change that's taking over me. I just hope it doesn't lead to a minivan.

The First Blog

Today we finally planted our garden. Chelsey and I have been talking about it for months now (we usually do a lot of talking and very little doing), and I can't believe we actually took the steps to complete it. I built a raised planter out of 2" by 6" boards and put it in the ground a few weeks ago. Today, Lori and Josie helped me get the soil from the nursery (I paid for the soil from last night's poker winnings), and we came home and dumped it in. Chelsey was so excited that she actually came outside and worked. After a few cookies and waters, Lori and Josie left Chelsey and I to fend for ourselves with the garden.
After soaking it for much shorter than we were told to, Chels started planting the seeds she had started. She planted brocolli, cauliflower, celery, red onions, and some other vegetables I can't remember. I really hope it's successful because I haven't always had the best luck when it comes to growing things. Like the time two years ago when I planted sod in the back yard, only to see half of it die within a few months. My job today was to dump the soil and then watch Lucy. I guess the garden will be safe for now.
It was a great day, and of course, I ended it by taking Franklin around the block afterwards. He had ample opportunities to run away today, but he decided to stay in our house for now. That's good news. I'll update with pictures next time.