Resolutions, Revolutions & Revelations

I have found that my last few blogs are substantially shorter than the bulk of my writings. The frequency of my postings attribute to my deductions that I should stop submitting long and drawn out epistles. So, one of my New Year's resolutions is to continue to blog but to keep each short and condensed. But I warn you....... Most people never follow through with ambitious resolutions.

As the New Year is upon us, I suppose I should state some of my resolutions. I am determined to make twenty ten a really good year. For the past four years, one or more of my children were getting married, getting pregnant, or giving birth. I guess that could happen this coming year as well, but a year off would be nice. But I have learned that what I want usually does not mean squat when it comes to my children. They tend to do what they do. I will concede that sometimes if I just go with the flow things are not all that bad either.

Over the past few years, I have come to the realization that my role in life has changed. It really does not seem that long ago when the Plaintiff placed a pair of booties on a six pack of beer and left them in my fridge. For the past 34 years I have been the very best father I know how to be. I guess my children are the only true judges if I was or not. I feel everyone should have a statement attributed to them. I hope that I shall be remembered by my statement "I have raised my children to be good parents" I recall picking each of the Mrs. The Third's daughters up as they were sleeping leaning against a cold window. They had been looking into a parking lot hoping to see their biological father to arrive as he had promised. That was the day they became my daughters and I became a father again. As I drove to my home in Spring, Texas after the Mrs. The Third delivered our last child, I cried as I heard Joe Cocker singing. Once again I continued my fatherhood. My youngest is nearly 20 years old and soon I will no longer have a teenager in my family. Yes, I am still a father but now a father to adults. I used to tell them I am not here to be your friend but to be your parent. Now I must admit the opposite applies.

I am not trying to be sappy here. I love, with every parcel of my being, my four children. I have given them everything I have had to give them. I do not own many material things, but I shall leave whatever that is to them when I am gone. They should remember one thing though. I never had nor do I have the word "STUPID" tattooed on my forehead and frankly I am vastly more intelligent than any of them realize. I find that trying to prove that fact is not worth the effort. One day the light will come on for them. I know it. I am confident of that.

So,I hereby submit my 2010 New Year's Resolutions:

1. Loose weight. (I am determined to loose 30% of my total body weight as of January 1.) (I weigh 231 pounds today.)

2. Blog less but more often (ok I already stated that one)

3. Brew my own beer.

4. Drink less but more beers.

5. Get a real job.

6. Plant a vegetable garden / hop garden

7. Go back to Church

8. Go to Doctor and have an actual physical.

9. Play my guitar and mandolin more often. Maybe find someone to play with.

10. Write a song. I mean a real song that people will actually like. Maybe it could be about an astronaut or something. Oh shit, that has been done. (The Rock Star Mentality just told me that that comment was "messed up")

11. Change the world......(I know that is a bold statement but I really do want to change the world)

So here we go...........

The Third

Hai Karate

This morning as I have done for so many year before, I sat on the couch with bed head and opened wrapped presents around a lit Christmas tree. This year our bounty was meager yet just as appreciated. I placed a box of Whitman Samplers underneath the tree for the Mrs. The Third. Her father used to always leave her one when she was younger. As I have stated, I am big on tradition. But I have to confess that it was for Easter morning that he left out the candies. Oh well so I have modified them a bit. It is the thought I suppose. I set here drinking fresh Starbucks coffee (Christmas Blend 2009) and admiring my four new pair of Banana Republic boxers (which I picked out). My wife is in the kitchen cooking eggs Ranchero. My mother used to cook that for us on Christmas morning. I got some really nice cologne (Dolce Gabbana the one) , a cooking pot for my home brew beer (from the Rock Star Mentality), a gift certificate to Austin Brew Supply (from The Prodigy and The Jim). I see my peeps are really reading my blogs. I also received (from The Mrs. The Third) a very small cast iron skillet to hold basting sauce for my grill/pit. I am really impressed with it. It made me recall past Christmases and me thinking what were my very favorite presents.

My Aunt Pete and Uncle Jay used to always give me multiple pairs of Gold Cup socks. At one time I owned every color that they made. I think I finally wore out the last pair of them only a few years ago. My Aunt Mary Nell used to always give me Old Spice cologne. I drop hints to my family that I would appreciate some each year. Some years I do get some and some years (like this year) I do not. When I do not get any I usually go out and buy some anyway.

I have received countless record albums, eight tracks, cassettes, CDs and DVDs. I could not tell you how many sweaters, shirts, pants, jackets and other assorted articles of clothing I have received. I have received electronics,watches, bedding, guns, fishing equipment, tools, baseball gloves, footballs, basketballs, cigars, art work, musical instruments, jewelry,(including a Saint Christopher's medal from an old girlfriend) alcohol, and food (even boudin). I have received at least two bicycles, In addition to the Old Spice and Dolce Gabbana I have received a lot of cologne. Conoe, British Sterling, Brut, English Leather, Polo, Arimis, Royal Coppenhagen, Paco Rabon, Lagerfield, Grey Flannel, Currier and Ives, various Avon fragrances and yes even Hai Karate to name only a few. Of course I received toys when I was younger and even a few when I grew older. My father once had an old pulp wood truck parked in front of our house and a set of keys hanging on the Christmas tree. He had me convinced that he had bought it for me. Thank God he did not. I guess my D-28 qualifies as my favorite gift of all time. But there is a story that goes with it and I will tell it another day. Most of my readership already knows the story.

My father's mother and father never gave me a Christmas present. Well they did sort of. Each year they would give my mother and father a check (a pretty good one actually) and my parents would use it to purchase our presents. We got a pretty cool bounty each year. Each Christmas I tended to purchase Dit a new wallet. He would always say he loved it. A few months after he died I was going through his desk and I found 13 wallets. All new. As his oldest grandson I received the wallet he actually used. It was worn and tattered. I am not sure if it was one that I gave him or not.

So... I must say that it is not the receiving of gifts and for that matter not the giving of gifts. It is what it is, and what it is is special.

Yes, it is the day the Catholic Church designated as the Feast of the Birth of Christ or Christ's Mass. And yes, it is a United States federal holiday. But it is special in it's own individual way to each of us.

So my trilogy of Christmas blogs is complete.

Happy Christmas to you all and to all a good night,

Santa (aka The Third)

"Der Bingle"

I have lived my entire live living in the South. In the past 4 years while being employed by the Power Load, I have had the opportunity to travel all over the United States and as a result I have experienced all sorts of weather. I have been in minus 13 degree weather and I have been stranded on I-80 in a blizzard. I have traveled in a virtual white out. I have watched White Christmas more times than I care to admit. I even drove through Vermont in late December, but I have never seen actual snow falling on Christmas Eve. That is until today. I am looking out my front window and watching small snow flurries. I realize it will not stick to the ground but I, after 58 years, am having a White Christmas.

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow.

The Third

Family Tradition...The Soaking of the Beans

Well today is the day that I once again re enact a family tradition. As I wrote in one of my earlier blogs (Dies Natalis Solis Invicti --December 22, 2008), a few minutes ago I poured a packet of "15 beans" beans into a pot and will soak them overnight. Thus the soaking of the beans. I know it sounds strange or hokey, but it really does mean something to me. Traditions are easy to establish, difficult to maintain, but nearly impossible to pass on. But I am trying.

Today has been a good day. We visted Austin. We had a great breakfast at Mimi's , made a beer run at Spec's, visted Austin Brew Supply, did some Christmas shopping, purchased a Honey Baked Ham and then took a trip to visit Uncle Billy's Brew and Que. I had looked on the internet and saw that they had one of my favorite beers on tap. Sadly they ran out two days ago. On my friend Matt's (who was visiting family in Western Pa.) recommendation, I tried the Hop Zombie IPA. It was pretty damn good. I did have my taste up for Hell in Keller though. Well at least I have a reason to return now.

Happy Christmas!!!!!! Kyleigh (Little Cat), Levi (Little Man), Sarah, Kimmie, Tommy, Kristina, Jennifer, Jim, and Ann......


Pax Omnem Per Terram

Big Cat, (The Third)

Post Script

Today is also Festivus. So as I gaze at my Festivus Pole, I extend a heart felt Happy Festivus.

"It's a Festivus for the rest of us"

3rd

The Best is Yet to Come

I really have no excuses as to why have not submitted any recent blogs. I have been working on a few but thus far I have yet to edit them in order to be posted. I did not want my one year anniversary to pass (which it did actually) without acknowledging it.

So fans stay tuned. The best is yet to come.

Always

The Third