To The Love of My Life

You came along
and change my world.
When everything was dark
you created the spark.

I never thought I would meet
such a gentle love.
My love, when you appear
I never thought about love.

The softness in your voice
whenever you speak to me,
make me think this was my best choice
and I knew I wouldn't resist.

You took me by hand
and lead me to your world
where everything changed
and where you make me yours.

I close my eyes, and take a step
you take my waist and I hold my breath.
Your lips on mine, there's nothing like that,
I wish for this moment every second of my life.

I love you, and you know
and that's the most important of all.
No matter how wrong it could go
you loved me, and I know.

The Ramblings of a Traveling Man

Oh the glorious life of a traveling man. Its always one of glitz and glam. At least that is what most people think about when they hear that I get to travel for my job. Its always the same comments no matter where they come from, " you get to eat out", "you get to see cool places", "you get to entertain" etc etc etc.

Well I will admit it was exciting and flashy at the beginning. But truth behind it all is its a job. Its not glamorous. It often times sucks. Imagine getting up at 4:00am to get ready and get to the airport to fly out by 6:30 to catch a layover in a different city. Finally you get to your destination on the west coast.... you have traveled now for 8 hours and your day is starting out in your territory.... oh and by the way its only 12 noon. You get the privilege of spending the next 6 hours making says calls and finally getting to your hotel for the night. Maybe you have to do dinner with a customer or sales rep or you are lucky and you get to sit alone at a restaurant again. You finally get to crash after being up and running for what amounts to be close to 20hours.

You get glimpses of home through phone calls, emails, and picture messages. Those things help to make the week go by but it always leaves you longing for more. You want to see your family, you want to be there when things aren't going the best. You want to be there more.

I chose this profession and this job. I chose it because it allows for me to provide for my family in a manner that dramatically better than anything I have done before. But it comes at a cost. A cost of missing pretty much half of everything. It is roughly 26 weeks into the year and I have been gone away from home for 13 of them. Excluding the weekends that is about 60 days so far that I have been gone from home. Gone from seeing my daughter grow up, gone from my wife, gone from my home and other responsibilities and last but not least gone from my own bed.

The glitz and glam has warn off. The going out to eat and entertaining gets old. I would prefer to be at home with my family. I would prefer to eat the home made food and their leftovers on a daily basis. I would prefer to be at home every night. But I wouldn't be able to provide for my family like I am now. My wife bears a lot of the burden when I am gone. She is the only married/single mom I know. Having a husband but raising your daughter 75% of the time on your own is quite frustrating, demanding, and often hell. She is amazing that she is able to handle it. She is amazing that she keeps things running as smoothly as they are. Thank you to my wife for being the center point of our family!

Oh the glitz and Glam.

Mother's Day!!!!!

We have had a lot of big changes taking place lately that I was looking forward to a Sunday to kick back and try not to think of everything that is going on! Maddie and Pat woke me up with lots of fun pictures and cards that Maddie made and told me that we needed to get cleaned up and head downtown! We spent the morning at the Milwaukee Museum. . . . .Maddie saw it on Curious George and decided she need to take me there too! After that, we headed over to Rock Bottom for lunch, hit up a park for some fun, and ended the day grilling out! It was a wonderful day!!!!

Maddie loves the swings!!!!!

Pat purchased this kite for Maddie, but he has been OBSESSED with it for weeks. I honestly think he got it for himself!

Us on the riverwalk downtown after lunch!

Happy Mothers Day to all the mommys out there!!!

Easter!

I know I know. . . a few weeks late on this one!!! It was a fun Easter this year for us with Maddie really getting into it. Like Santa, we used the Easter Bunny as much as we could to encourage good behavior! (don't judge!) We visited him at the mall a few times, and even ran into him at the zoo!!! Like usual, Maddie made out like a bandit!!!

Basket #1

Basket #2

Look what I did with the grass from #2. . . .

Basket #3

Easter Bunny at the zoo!

Those are 3 of the 7 baskets she got! Also had goodies from Nana right before Easter, GG, us, and her friend Ali from the Y. Spoiled much?!?

She knows what she wants!!!!!!!!!!

Where to begin? This little lady has been making us laugh harder and harder each and every day. Both Pat and Maddie needed haircuts BAD so I thought it would be quickest and easiest to pop into a great clips and get them both done at the same time. Maddie was super excited about getting her haircut so I thought that this was going to be a piece of cake. . . .WRONG! She took one look around and said to me, "Mama, where is my Barbie car???" I tried explaining to her that this hair place didnt have one but that it would still be fun. She looked at me like I was an idiot and said, "I dont want my haircut anymore!" I caved and took her to her little salon a few days later and she got to sit in her Barbie car!

After her haircut we let her rock out for awhile. Can you guess what will be on her Xmas/Bday list next? Guitar and microphone!

She has turned into quite the little mommy lately. She has to bring her new backpack filled with baby stuff everywhere. It is amazing watching the little things that she has picked up on watching me and other people.

Last weekend we got to spend a little time with my friend Jill and Maddie noticed she had a "picture" on her foot. (her new tattoo) What does Maddie say next, "I like it, I want picture too!" Good ol' Auntie Jill provided me with a "picture" for Maddie and this kid thinks she is the coolest thing!

Little Miss Personality

I have been having a lot of fun with Little Miss since we got back from Vacation. A day doesnt go by that something smart and witty doesn't come out of her mouth. She is this little person absorbing everything around her. She has had a fun couple of weeks hanging out with family and playing pretend!

Papa and his girls!

Nana's turn!!

Here is that personality shining through!!!!!

Papa and Maddie at the airport!

Here are a few highlights that took place over the past few days. . .because I could post on here DAILY the crazy stuff that she does and says.

Pat and I were having a conversation about his dining experiences when he travels for work, and Maddie decided to throw her two cents in.

Me: Gosh, I could go for a nice dinner out . . .but you dont want to because you eat out all the time for work.

Pat: I will take you out to eat and we can find a babysitter, I will wine and dine you.

Maddie: I come too guys!

Me: No Maddie, mommy and daddy are going to go to a fancy restaurant and you are going to stay home and play with a babysitter!

Maddie: *in a crying voice* But I want to come with you guys to DONALDS!!!!!!!

So her version of fancy consists of McDonalds - good grief!!!

Her other new trick. . . . if she doesnt want to answer you, she will close her eyes and snore. How the heck did she learn that? We were driving home from the Y today and I asked her waht she wanted for lunch! Next thing I know she is snoring and her head is tilted to the side. This kid. . . .

I did it!

I am a big fan of to-do lists and goals. There is something inside of me that bursts with excitement when I can set myself up for a challenge and accomplish it. My bucket list consists of completing a triathlon, and since I like to push myself, I decided that I need to check this "task" off of my bucket list at some point this year! A few months ago I was talking with a woman at my Y about training for one and getting myself ready. She asked me what was stopping me. "Well, I don't like running. . . .I am terrible at it! I have never been a runner and don't have the desire to do it. I could strap my shoes on and walk all day, but running - yuck!" Her response to my upbeat and positive answer was this . . ."When you start to show me a desire to run and an ambition to run, then we will go from there!" OUCH! But she was right. Even thought I didn't like running in the past didn't mean I couldn't start right? Towards the end of January I started running. . . .and then increasing a little bit at a time. In February the Y announced that they were holding an event in March to challenge individuals to be consistent with their workouts. For the month of March you had to complete the following - 112mi Bike 26mi Run 2.4mi Swim (or additional 7mi run) This was the perfect thing for me to work on my running, but there was 1 problem. I was going to be in Mexico for 8 days in March. Already feeling at a disadvantage, I took 2 weeks to decide. . . . . . .that I could do it. . . .and if I did, I would reward myself! I'm happy to say that I was able to complete all of my distances!!! My two rewards for accomplishing this - **My brand new Ipod (I'm loving it - never realized how motivating music can be) **A jogging stroller (will be mine very soon) At the end of the day I could have gone out and purchased these items on my own, but it feels so better to earn them. The past month has taught me that I CAN accomplish more than I give myself credit for. Next on the chopping block. . . . .my first 5k run at the Milwaukee zoo!