Ry and Coop Dot Com

I’ve been called many things in life but one would not equate me to being a “man’s man.”  You know, the guy who gets into bar fights for exercise.  The man who prefers to eat his steak while it’s still grazing.  The man who doesn’t use band-aids but prefers, instead, to cauterize his wounds with a lighter.  I know being a man’s man is in the family.  My great-grandfather fell off a bridge while doing repairs when a cable snapped and whacked him off the support he was on.  Yes, off a bridge.  Yes, he lived many years later to tell the tale, without complaint.  Then there was my grandfather who served in the Navy.  My father has been known to cut himself up pretty good, especially while roofing.  Me, well, I’ve been known to strain an eye staring at a computer screen too long. 

Well this week, I was able to catch a glimpse into the future and I’m seeing the beginning stages of a new Austin man’s man. While spending some time at Papa P’s farm (another man’s man.. the guy has his own fishing pond!) Ryan had a chance to catch his own fish and show off his recently acquired black eye.  Now, the black eye came from falling out of bed but a real man’s man never explains the black eye, he just wears it proudly! 

It’s funny.  I’ve always kind of thought Father’s Day to be a Hallmark holiday but Mother’s Day seemed to have more significance.  As a father, I realize now why that is.  You see, Father’s Day happens many many more times a year than Mother’s Day.  Father’s Day is every Sunday at 1pm or 4pm ET in the fall.  Father’s Day is running to Toys R’ Us to buy a remote control helicopter that you can leave on the stove to be melted.  Father’s Day is pretty much every day.  Mother’s Day really should be held in high esteem as the day when we sit back, even for a moment, and thank those who keep it all together.

For those who didn’t have the luxury of seeing, here’s reason #87442309 why Jenn is the best mother in the world.  Here’s Cooper’s 1st Birthday… a ‘Mater Cake made by mom!!!

So here’s a Happy Mother’s Day to all the moms out there.  A special tip of the hat to my mother and mother-in-law and a special one to the best mom out there.

Birthdays are fun.  Birthdays are fun, even for those who pretend they’re not or who don’t like to be reminded of how old they are, secretly they’re still fun.  The whole concept, celebrating the fact that you made it on this big round ball another year, is totally reason for celebrating.  Unfortunately, our Mr. Coop-A-Doop isn’t so inclined to party.  He’s entered his 1st birthday today on the fifth day of a virus that has brought him a cold, fevers above 104 and some really tough days.  As if that weren’t enough, his molars are making their way through which causes him to chew on things with the ferocity of a slightly elderly beaver. 

So, as I look to this weekend for a better chance to celebrate, here’s a happy birthday to the second little man who’s brought so much joy into our lives and a hope that he gets back to his same happy-go-lucky spirit we’ve grown to love.

As I sit here at my desk in Bristol at 9:30 and watch the NFL Draft winding its way through the picks, I

can’t help but look back at tonight’s dinner time pictures and realize just how much I love and miss these little faces.  I’ll be clear, Jenn didn’t send a picture but she’s also very much missed!  I digress. 

A break from the deep and philosophical to share a cute picture of Coop.  I spend a lot of my time blogging about this crazy journey I’m on and, while it’s fun, sometimes it’s just easier and just as effective to let the pictures do some of the talking.  Can you still touch your toes?  Look at you trying!  I’m proud of you!  By the way, I can’t.

I’m tired of tragic news.  The news today from the Boston Marathon that two explosions killed three and injured more than 80 people is equal parts scary, painful and sickening.  I understand this world we live in is not the world my parents grew up in and I’m scared that the world my children will grow up in will be that much worse than the one we’re in now.  I understand that, as globalization brings down the walls that separate nation states, we’re going to be thrust into a world where we face similar challenges as other countries, but that doesn’t mean I have to like it!

My heart goes out to the victims and their families, no doubt, but it also aches a bit for the simple days when we didn’t have to lock the doors and look behind our backs on dimly lit streets.  I miss the days when we could travel without constant reminders of the security risks we’re under.  A few months ago I angrily added that I’ll miss the days when I could trust my children and wife would be safe at school.  Today, I’ll add that I miss the days when I could run 26.2 miles and only be worried about whether I’d die in a figurative sense.  No, this is not a good day.  I’m angry that my children won’t grow up in a world of innocence  thankfully this world will always be one of wonder and watching how America recoils from this tragedy will be something worth watching and teaching them.  Yes, today it’s okay to be angry.  With some time, and more time for those who’ve been directly impacted, there will be a time for healing.  The greatest way to combat this is to silently punish, without any media attention, those who perpetrated this awful crime and to hug your loved ones and remind them that there is still hope for a better world.

Jenn and I are debating tonight about our trip to The Florida Aquarium.  It is clear to Jenn that Mr. Coop is remembering his early years of feeding.  I, on the other hand, am arguing that his Austin gene is kicking in and he’s starting early. 

The truth is, like many things our children do, we have no idea how or why but we can sit back and laugh anyway.

My previous post spoke of my deep affection for an old friend.  My friend Matt was definitely the ring leader of our little troop and Tim and I his faithful squires.  We’d spend hours playing video games or staging huge Lego wars that could sometimes last full weekends.  Which brings me to today.

Today, 1986 Dave got a glimpse at a truly amazing site, Legoland.  This theme park in Florida is geared toward younger kids and has assorted sized characters made completely of Legos!  I was truly impressed, no doubt, and am thankful to have spent the time with my family.  I’ll say this though, at the risk of sounding like an old curmudgeon, they didn’t have ANYTHING like this place when I was 14!  Oh, how times have changed. 

It’s been seven years since I lost my good friend in Iraq.  It has now become a wonderful tradition, aided by modern technology like this blog and social media, that many of my close friends and family gather on the interwebs to honor Tim’s memory.  There’s no doubt the world misses him and there’s no doubt that my friends and family miss Tim and there’s no doubt that I miss Tim.

We’re in Florida now enjoying a family vacation.  In this picture, Ryan is the “bus driver” giving us instructions on where we’re going.  In this game I see a bit of myself and a whole lot of Tim.  The three amigos, Tim, Matt Clement and I were insanely imaginative and yet content to just be together.  Throw in those from the Circle Gang and we had one childhood full of play and friendship.

At the risk of sounding over-the-top, today is a great day to honor a man who paid the ultimate sacrifice so that my boys could enjoy a life of peace and security.  I know Tim’s family has paid a dear price for that peace so I think it’s important that we not squander the opportunity.  I hope I raise my boys to the blue print that Tim created for us.  I hope they feel the unconditional love of a friend, as I have, and I hope that they learn to treat everyone with the same unselfish respect that Tim did. A tip of the hat today to a good man.  I miss you. 

It’s two for Sunday today as I was awfully inspired to share this cute picture of both Ryan and Cooper…roughly the same age and both in the same outfit and enjoying their first time on a swing!

There isn’t much in the way of inspiration and certainly no major historic quotes but a certain amount of cuteness just can’t be hidden from the world!  This is one outfit that has made memories!