Mardi Gras madness...

Well, one interesting thing about being in the 'southron' US is the cultural fascination with Mardi Gras. Now I'm not talking about the crazily portrayed GGW show me your beads style of Mardi Gras. I am told by everyone that truly celebrates Mardi Gras how that is definitely not the true intent or meaning of the celebration. I have as of yet not become familiar with the true context of the cultural celebration, but I am sure that another few years in the area will instill a more thorough respect for the festival.

Needless to say, I just spent 45 minutes putting purple, green, and yellow frosting on store-bought cookies to attend the churches famed Mardi Gras festivities this evening. It should be good times though. There will be a zydeco band playing there this evening so that should be interesting. Hadley Castille and the Sharecropper band are supposedly internationally known in zydeco circles at least. How big are those circles though? The only thing I am sad to say I was not able to do is put together a costume for this evening. I would have loved to head over to the goodwill and get a big old purple blazer and the gaudiest gold tie you have ever seen. I doubt Lori is lamenting my lack of ability in this area however. :)

For another party on Monday night, I think I may be so ambitious as to try putting together a king cake. Which from what I can gather is mostly just a big cinnamon bun drizzled with icing in the above mentioned colors. Nevertheless, I am trying to find some time for merriment with all the seriousness of work and child preparation looming over our head. I know that especially with the start of lent and Easter preparation both Lori and I will be extremely busy with everything in our lives. Oh well, there will always be a chance to enjoy life once the kids are older right? :P

Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend!

Shake your groove thing...

Every now and then you come across a photo or clip that is deemed blog worthy. This is definitely one I would believe. Shake your groove think Kip!

Well, now that the total randomness is out of the way, I would once more like to advertise that if you haven't already, check out the BABY BLOG!

Things are progressing well at the pregnant household. Lori is starting to nest and feeling the urge to clean and throw things away. I am thoroughly enjoying the throwing away process, yet we can never seem to catch up on the cleaning end of things. I wonder how many other people struggle with that same problem. Seems like we get one or two rooms done, only to have then overrun in the next day by guests or packing or some other idiotic endeavor. Not to mention that we are going to have to build another wing for all the stuff that Ava is going to receive in the next 6 months. Getting her room cleaned out would at least be a good start I think. :)

My oh my how time is flying again. I will probably blink and wake up tomorrow with a squalling infant in my arms. There doesn't even seem to be all that much going on right now. Just enough to keep time flowing without my knowledge that it is passing at all. One of these years I would like to play some golf again. Maybe even get in shape. What shape you ask? Why the Michelin man shape! That would be the easiest to accomplish at this point anyway.

Bah, well I will end there for today. Good morrow and happy hunting!
Remember, "Guns don't kill people, VP Cheney kills people." (Sorry had to do it!) He's going to be kicking himself in the rear for that one for a while.

Peace,
Adam

It's a...

Check out the BABY BLOG!

Another one rides the bus...

Well congratulations to the Steelers on their thrilling super bowl win. It was nice to see a somewhat even matched game that was interesting to watch and not over by the middle of the third quarter. Congrats to Bettis also, the bus stops here!

On a much much cooler note. I got to feel the baby kicking for the first time today! I got to feel it on the outside even before Lori did. It was one of the coolest things that I have ever experienced. It really brings the reality of the baby to a whole different level. It's kind of scary though because I'm still not sure if I'm really ready for all of this. Of course I don't think that you can ever be completely ready to accept complete responsibility for the upbringing of another human being. It is just sort of thrust on you, and you run with it. Hopefully you take some time to prepare mentally, spiritually, and financially, but ready or not, in nine months the kid is going to pop out whether you're ready or not. It's like the old saying goes I guess. Anyone can be a father, it takes a real man to be a dad. So give it up to all the dads out there and hopefully some of their wisdom will pass on to me.

Anyway as this draft is finally getting finished a few days late, I will end here and begin again in another so as to not disrupt the space time continuum with forward history.

Over 1 billion served...

God bless McDonald's. Where else can you enjoy getting fatter by the mouthful, know that's what is happening, and enjoy the taste all at the same time? Two double cheeseburgers a small fry and an apple pie later and I wonder why I don't feel like running. Only in America my friends...

Seriously though, I really need to step it up a notch here. My goal is to lose as much weight as Lori gains, but I am not quite keeping up with her. She looks great though. It's awesome to see her belly to get bigger week by week! According to the books, I should be able to feel the baby moving within the next couple weeks. I can't wait!

It's been a great couple weekends that ended January. I was out in Colorado for one enjoying a retreat with the menfolk and taking time to enjoy the snow with my siblings. We built a monstrous snowman using just about all the snow that was left in the yard. Lori was VERY jealous.

The next weekend Lori and I had the opportunity to do music at our diocesan youth conference near here in Sandestin. We had a great time and met some good people and made some great contacts in the diocese. It was so nice to get away from our messy house for the weekend, we went ahead and stayed an extra day. It was nice to feel like we were able to relax and not worry about anything for another night. We woke up relaxed and thoroughly engorged ourselves at the IHOP. All you can eat pancakes baby! Well, we really only ate the first ones we were given, but we could have had more if we wanted them.

Other than that, it will be nice to have things slow down again for a couple weeks. It will give me some time to firm up plans for Lent and Easter not that far away. Anyway, that is about all I can muster for now, but am definitely looking forward to a more frequent blogging now that traveling has ceased for a while.

Peace to all!
Adam