The broken season

Maybe you noticed the change to the title of this blog? If not, I'll tell you. I added "and ???" to the list of the family members covered by the blog in honor of the fast approaching due date of our next child. I also added a description to the top to help out any wayward "blog surfers" who may want to take a read.

If you read last Friday's post, you may have picked up on the hints that I was displeased with myself for dropping the ball on Marian's birthday. Needless to say, her feelings were hurt. I'd like to say this was an individual incident. The truth is I've dropped the ball on her birthday probably all eleven of the birthdays I've known her for. And Christmases.  And Valentine's day. And anniversaries. And mother's day.

What can I say? I have no good excuse. I am NOT guilty of forgetting these occasions, overlooking them. I am guilty of procrastinating doing something for her until it's too late. I dwell on what to get her, do for her, weeks before and my inner dialogue goes something like this: Mare's birthday (or insert appropriate occasion here) is coming up in a couple of weeks. I really let her down last (occasion), I need to do something special for her to make her feel special. What can I do that would show her? Hmm. I'll have to think about it . . . 
And that's as far as I make it. Procrastination! The bane of my existence.

I always want to do something special, something really original. Then I don't do any of it. I can't stand the thought of buying her something from Wal-Mart. Let me wander around in here until I find something to buy for her which she'll like. That doesn't sound appealing at all. But, a cheesy gift from Wal-Mart is better than a plate full of nothing. Nothing is what she got.

I had the audacity to focus my attentions on my own self hate rather than focusing on making it up to her. What can I do? Our tenth anniversary is coming up fast. I can try to do something special for that. But what? Leave a comment with your suggestions. It's time I start thinking of others first, instead of myself.

It's time to get back into the swing of things

Teachers would find the transition from summer vacation, back to school to be much easier if only each of them had their own theme song like Mr. Kotter. Click on the image below to hear that familiar intro theme song from the fairly well-known situation comedy. It's about a high school teacher appointed to the education of a fine group of what my late grandpa Jim would call "knot-heads".

It's fall and this blog is being updated, and that means it must be school-days, school-days, good old golden rule days. I've been at it for two weeks now and the smell of floor wax still tickles the nostrils, and my new shoes continue to squeak when I pace about the classroom teaching. The "honeymoon" period of the student /teacher relationship is still in full swing. So far the students are fairly compliant to the rules I've established, but next week I predict the degradation of student attitudes. Such is education.

It's been so long since I've updated this blog, I'm not sure what I wrote about. No doubt if you read this blog long enough, you'll realize I write about much of the same "stuff" again and again. My goal is not to disappoint, so I'll inform you yet again that Marian is pregnant. She's due on the 29th of October. It's scheduled to be another boy. There you go. What follows is the short list of names: Hank; Henry; Arlo; Arliss. Recently I've grown fond of  the name Goodman. It's masculine, sturdy, and I like what it implies.

I encountered the name reading the Nathaniel Hawthorne short story, Young Goodman Brown. Young Goodman Brown is the son of, can you guess it? The elder Goodman Brown. It's a story set in the Puritan times of New England. Young Goodman Brown leaves on foot to attend a meeting which must not be put off, and about which the reader understands him to harbor reservations. His newlywed bride begs him not to go, due to some misgivings she is experiencing as well. The reader learns the person with whom Goodman is meeting is Satan, the devil, Lucifer etc. in the form of a contemporary. Along their walk Young Goodman learns his own father, a respected member of the community and church, has made bargains with the devil along his successful path. He, as well as the most prominent members of Salem's community and church have all compromised their standing with God the father in order to acquire worldly success through Satan.

It becomes apparent it's expected Young Goodman Brown will do much the same. However, Young Goodman is appalled by the revelation of what Satan reveals to him about his mentors, heroes, and loved-ones, and rejects the offer. At this point Goodman awakes and withdraws from society, determined not to follow suit. He saves his soul, presumably, but can no longer cope with seeing these people he once admired.

Wow. I started off by mentioning why I like the name Goodman, and ended up summarizing the short story. I've also grown fond of the name Younger.

So, now you know the "what-for" of our baby-name short list.We've all but eliminated Clayton from the considerations. And George. Sadly. As, George is the "other" name my parents call me.

I've run out of time, and you're wasting time by reading this. More, predictable posts to follow.

Much love to you