Yes!!! I am still here! But moving to a new spot...

Yes I know it has been over 2 months since I’ve updated my blog, and YES a lot has been going on.   For my avid followers I have to apologize.   Why has it taken so long?   I don’t know.    For the past 5 years or so I have been writing in this blog and Chris’s blog as a way of letting those people close to me know what was going on in our lives.   There were many times when I would update every day.   What I came to find out was that writing was a way for me to get it out of my system.   I have gone through a journey that I would wish on no one.   It has been a long journey, a sorrowful  journey, and now that I have come through the other side I find I no longer need to “let it all out” in words.    To all my friends and my family, I am well, and consider myself to be a very blessed man.    

Life has certainly had its ups and downs the past 5 years and I NEVER thought that I would ever recover from Chris’s loss.   In fact, I was ready to just make sure the kids were set and ride out life as best I could.   That all changed 2 years ago, when someone I did not know reached out to me in a simple e-mail expressing the following: “I wanted to wish you my best in your journey and hope you find new happiness in your life.”    Well, lo and behold, that new happiness did occur and did come from meeting this new friend.   Heather and I have taken a chance meeting and made it into something that you would only read about in one of those romance novels! 

   

So what’s been going on?   The new house has taken a lot of  work.  Packing, moving, unpacking, and then multiply that times 2 houses!   The hard stuff is done and now we are in decorating mode.   Trying to get some color on some walls before the holidays.

The kids are great.   All 6 of them!   Alex is doing well.   She has a full time job and owns her own condo.   Not many 23-year  olds can boast that.   Tyler is attending classes at FCC, works at the country club, and finds time to work in his shop.   www.tcdwoodworks.com  Check out some of his work.   He’s been buying a lot heavy-duty tools to make work a little bit easier.      

Nick is doing very well at Syracuse University.   Heather, Mike and Marian and I went up last weekend to visit him and got to attend the SU/West VA football game.   Very exciting.   As I am from Syracuse it actually brought back some fond memories.

Mike and Marian (M&M for short) are attending the same high school together.   Marian is working on/for the stage crew for the school play.   That’s going to be taking up some of her spare time and Mike will be getting ready for the spring lacrosse season very soon.   He’s adjusted pretty well so far to the transition from private school back to public.   He knows a great deal of people there and has made new friends to boot.

Ella is a vibrant, energetic, and extremely smart 7-year old!   What can I say, she makes every day a happy one for me and for Heather.    She has adjusted very quickly to her new school very close to the house and is starting to make new friends in the neighborhood.   Halloween is tomorrow night and she cannot wait!  

Heather is very busy with the house and getting the kids to and from school and their events that they need to attend.   She has decorated our new home with  a perfect combination of things from her home, my home, and new things to boot.   It’s really a wonderful setting, and has made the transition for all of the kids a very easy one.  They all get along very well.   No rivalries and a LOT of respect for one another.

Me?   I’m busy beyond all get up.   Work has been absolutely great.   The company is wonderful and doing very, very well.   I manage a team of professionals that support the Sales team in bringing in new business and we are doing very well.   The company holiday party is coming up in about 5 weeks and will be held at the Udvar-Hazy Center in VA.  It is part of the Air and Space Museum and houses many aircraft including  a Concorde, SR-71, and Space Shuttle!!!   It should be exciting! http://www.nasm.si.edu/spevents/uhcsites.cfm   I travel a bit for work but not too much.  Heather has gotten used to it now, but at the same time we both hate having to be away from one another.

I’ve done a lot of stuff around the house.  Lot’s of things to hang on the walls!!!   I also, had the time to put in a new builit-in desk complete with granite counter in my home office.  The cabinets match those in the kitchen exactly.   We also took the same approach up in the laundry room as well.   In fact Tyler just added a coat of paint to it yesterday and it looks fabulous.  The next 2 projects are a deck/patio and a bar in the basement.   Not sure the priorities yet.    Time is not on my side but both are badly needed.  

Heather and I have committed to one another to make sure that she and I continue down the path that we did before our move.  That includes some very much needed time away together.     We went to 2 plays this past month.  The first was South Pacific in Baltimore where we ended up spending the night and walking around Fells Point all day on Saturday.  The other was Les Miserable at the Kennedy Center (5th Row).  A spectacular show to a packed house in the opera house.   I am not a musical guy but must say it was very entertaining.  They sang the whole thing!!!!   :)  

So what's next?   Well, the holidays are fast approaching and it will be a very special time for us this year in our new home together.   Last year on Christmas eve I made a promise to Heather that we would not spend another one apart.   I keep my promises.    After the holidays, will be a new year.  A new year for all of us and one that is very much looked forward too this time!!!   

Sorry for the time between posts, I use Facebook and post many pictures and comments there so if you want to keep tabs on the day-to-day, just friend request me.  

https://www.facebook.com/charles.dewitt.   Thank you to everyone who's followed me on this blog.   It has been a long journey the past 4 years.  You all helped get me through it.

Love to all,
Charlie

New Homeowners!!!

 Well we did it!!!!

We settled on our brand new home on Friday.  It's been a whirlwind of activity for many months and it's getting even worse now.

We have to move 2 houses into 1!   It's going to be worth it for sure.  The kids are excited and Heather and I are looking forward to raising our families together.   It will be exciting for sure.

Hard to believe that this house went from nothing in the ground to delivery in just under 90 days!      It is absolutely stunning and we welcome all visitors!!!

We are in the process now of moving in and that will certainly be a daunting task!   However we know that we will prevail!!!

Today marks the beginning for both of us...  a new beginning!!!!!

Almost Complete!

Not quite complete....

Well it's 3:00 AM on a Friday.   I woke up again in the middle of the night for no obvious reason.   I took a look and of course I am 30 days since my last post to my blog. 

Now many of you who know me realize that if I'm not posting then things are probably going pretty well.  Well this is just the case.   Work is great.   After being promoted a couple of months back I've built up a very good team of employees who all help me support the Sales organization.   Some are young and I like that.   They are very ambitious.    In fact, this past week I was working with a young intern from ASU in Arizona who was very, very good and was extremely helpful in getting out 2 RFPs this past week for a couple of very large clients!  

Measuring the corn in back....

Tyler is working in his shop out in Middletown.  A place where he has all of his tools and such and is busy making cornhole games as well as refinishing tables and making furniture.   He enjoys it and makes a little bit of money doing it.   He's also working part time at the golf course and for the Frederick Keys.   His girlfriend has been traveling a lot this summer so he's had a lot of time on his hands.   He is also registering for classes for the upcoming school year and will be attending Frederick Community College and staying at home while doing so.

Mike's been trying to keep busy this summer.   He sleeps till noon, like every aspiring 16 year old teenager, gets up and then hangs with some friends on our street.   He's keeping his nose clean and that's what matters at this point.    He made a decision for the coming school year to not attend St. Johns.   Instead he is going to go to Urbana High School which is only a mile from our new house.   It's a good fit for him and he'll make new friends pretty quickly I'm sure.  He knows several kids there already so that should not be a problem.   He'll also have that luxury of walking to school each day!   Good exercise for sure.

Kitchen with granite....

The big thing in the house is of course our new house, soon to become a home.   I will be settling on my existing house on Aug 3.   I will be renting back for a couple of weeks and will be settling on my new house on August 12th.   We'll be moving in the following week in a slow methodical approach!   No need to do it all in one day.   The buyers of my house have actually purchased a lot of items (furniture, tractor etc) that they need so I am not going to have to move a lot of big things which will be great.

I've spent the last 4 weekends or so packing up things gradually.   I'm not going to have a lot of time with work so it's best to do it early.   The attic is done as is the storage room.  Next step is pictures and the stuff laying around the house.   It's been tough sometimes going through items that I haven't seen in 20 + years as well as having to go through a lot of Chris's collectibles.   We've kept a good number of them but at the same time we've sold some and given her parents a lot of things as well.   Packing is going smoothly and that's really good.

Ceramic in the kitchen

The house is coming along very well.  It's been great going over there each week and seeing its progress.  It is absolutely beautiful and Heather and I cannot wait to get it.   All of the upgrades we chose really make the house standout.   The location is just perfect for us as well.   We've been very busy looking for new furnishings.  New bedroom set, washer and dryer, family room furniture, and basement sectional just to name a few.   It's amazing what needs to be done!  We are in the home stretch and so very much looking forward to getting in.

The week after we move in Heather's son Nick is headed off to college.  And I am happy and proud to say that he is headed to Syracuse University!!! Looks like I'll be making some trips back up to the great white north for the next 4 years!!! He's so excited and so are we.  It's a wonderful chance for him and a new start for him as well.   He's going to do well.

And of course, Heather and I are doing very well.   The past 6 months or so have been a big change in our lives with me working more at my new job.  Our time together has been reduced.   At the same time though it's brought us closer together and solidified our belief in one another.   We enjoy each others company so much.  Our future is ours to make and we plan on making it the best we can.    Keep your browsers bookmarked to my blog.   Plenty more to come....

Tyler's Moment

 Well at the end of May Tyler was able to celebrate the next step in his life and that was his high school graduation.   It was very bitter sweet as any parent will attest to.   Great to see him mature and move on but yet sad to see him mature and move on.

Heather's son Nicholas also graduated with Tyler as well so we made it a big family event.   We all went out to dinner before the event up in Emmitsburg at the Carriage House Inn.   Great food and perfect location.   Only a couple miles to Mount Saint Mary's where they held the graduation.   Tyler's grandparents, along with Alex and her boyfriend Cory came, and Nick's Aunt and Uncle attended along with his sisters.    We had a nice evening albeit very crowded in the field house and very hot.

Our new house is well on it's way.   In only about 4 weeks we went from a hole in the ground to now they are putting the siding up and the drywall is already in!   Very exciting for all of us.   To say that we all cannot wait is just an understatement.    Rooms are up, cabinets and granite and tile is coming next.

The view out the back is spectacular.  We see corn and lots of it!  I keep joking that we'll make a corn maze this fall for halloween!   We'll charge a small fee of course to help pay the mortgage that month!  :)

Kitchen and Morning room

Our houses are under contract and ready to close.   Just waiting for the keys on the new one.  Lot's to start packing and throwing out still but that's an ongoing work in progress.

As you know writing for my blog has been a tad bit difficult the last couple of months.  I apologize for that but have been very busy with work, moving, my mom, etc.   My mom was diagnosed about a month ago with Stage IV ovarian Cancer.   She started chemo last week and has not tolerated it very well.   She's 80 years old and quite frail to say the least.   I flew out to Indiana last week and spent several days with her.   Very tough as she was suffering from the side effects of her first treatment.     Keep her in you prayers if you would. 

We'll have a black tin roof over the porch and garage.

Moving up!

Taken 6/7/2011

Well the house is just flying up!   The entire house is framed up completely and the next thing to happen is the HVAC and plumbing.

I have a meeting at the site tomorrow at 8 to tell them where to put the wiring outlets for the TV and internet.

Sold it w/o putting it on the market!!!!

Things are looking up in this household!  My house has a full asking price contract on it with no contingencies!  I can stay up to the end of August too!  Most like won't need that at all but nice to have the option.

House rising fast!

10am

 

7pm

7pm morning room and fireplace

Picture taken June 2nd!

Memorial Day cometh!

Foundation of our new house.

 ... and the days just keep flying by!!!   Well it is hard to believe that Memorial Day is this coming Monday!!!  The spring is flying by as is all of 2011.  We've been very, very busy.  We're cleaning out the house and getting ready to move.   Hard to believe but yes move.  Lot's of years, 14, here and finally the boys and I felt that it was time to move on so to speak.    It's going to be a beautiful home for us and plenty of room to spread out!   Hopefully sometime in early August will be our move date.

4th annual award

Last week I was honored to once again hand out the 4th annual Christine DeWitt Memorial Award for Marketing Excellence at the annual MD/DC Credit Union League.   An award that is given out to not only honor Chris and carry on her legacy of marketing excellence but to also recognize the single credit union that carries on that dream and desire that she had.   I'm very glad to be a part of the event that is for sure.

Michael's lacrosse season has come to an end.   His team made it to the championship game and played at Towson University.  The did lose but played well.   School for him is over in just about 1 week.  Tyler graduates this tuesday!!!  Hard to believe.   He wasn't even in school when we moved here and now he's graduating.   Sad but true.   He's attending the local community college for 2 years and then moving on to more exciting things I'm sure!    He's also landed an internship (paid) with a master wood worker here in the Frederick area.  7am to 3pm 5 days a week!!! A real job.   That'll keep him so busy this summer it will be crazy.

May 27th 2011

On a sad note, my mother who is 80 years old was just recently diagnosed with stage IV colon cancer.  It has spread to her liver.  She starts chemo in about a week.   I'm headed out to visit in another week or so, but please keep her in you prayers.

Heather and her kids are doing very well and thank you to everyone for asking about her.  As with anything pertaining to the future, it is unknown.  But what we do know is that we are going to ensure that we are both happy and that all of our children are happy and cared for as well.  Happiness is a very important aspect of life and we've found that in one another.

Thank you!

Tyler's Passion

Well Tyler has started to really take off with his woodworking abilities!   He has his own website at www.tcdwoodworks.com   He's taking orders!!!   Here's a couple of pictures for you to enjoy...

Easter Already?

Well Easter sort of snuck up on us pretty quickly....    This spring has been a rainy one for sure.   Sorry for the almost 2 months between my last post and this one.   I've been extremely busy.  My new job has really been great for me.  I've travelled a little bit here and there, and the boys have been great at home by themselves.  When I'm in a pinch Heather, Nick, and Alex step up and help with rides for Michael which has allowed me to go on trips w/o any worries.   Not what I could have done 3 or 4 years ago.

Tyler has started his own woodshop at a friend's out building near home.   He took many of my tools from the garage to get himself started.  I don't use them much and I know where to find them if I do.   He also started a website at tcdwoodworks.com where he's trying to sell some of his more exotic collections and show off his work.    He is hoping to get an apprenticeship at a woodworking shop this summer.   He's had communications with the owner and it may pan out.   It would be some great experience for him and it's something he enjoys doing.  

He also is in his final weeks of high school as he is graduating on the day after Memorial Day.  Hard to believe but he is.   He'll be taking classes this fall at the local community college and then we'll see where he ventures to from there.

Mike is working through classes at Saint John's Catholic Prep.   He is fully engulfed in lacrosse as well.   He's played in every JV game this year and for the most part has played the entire game.  It is a good way to keep him focused on school and dedication to the work that needs to be done.     He will be going back in the fall as we've sent in our deposit.

For Easter Heather and her children spent the day with us and the weather was pretty nice out.  We had an egg hunt for Ella in the backyard which she enjoyed tremendously.   It's fun watching a 7-year old w/o any cares or worries run around the backyard looking for candy filled eggs.   Makes me very envious!  

We've been doing a lot of cleaning around the house....  big changes are coming and we've started upstairs and downstairs.   Getting rid of tons of clothes and items that are no longer used.

My new whip...

Oh, I did breakdown and get another car.   My MDX was acting up so before I had to drop a ton of money into it I traded it in on a newer model Acura TL.  I have a car again!  You can see my RIT0001 tag displayed proudly!

Keep reading and and I'll do my best to add more when I can!

Spring Coming?

OBX 2010

Summer seems like such a long time ago...   The weather here in MD has really taken it's toll on me this winter.   I stood on my deck yesterday and realized that I had not walked in the backyard since probably October!   It's been cold, snowy, rainy... you name it.  And on those few days when it has been nice, I've been busy.

Busy at work for sure.  It's a great thing really and I'm still adjusting to everything and everyone there.  It's a great place and I'm lucky to have found it and been selected to be a part of their team.    I went on my 1st business trip this week.  I went to Miami for a quick meeting.  85 degrees really jolted my system!  Hence my flashbacks to the summer at Outter Banks.  Great summer for sure.  This summer not sure yet what we'll be doing but I'm thinking it'll involve boxes... More on that later.

March 1st came and that brings lacrosse.   Lacrosse season has begun.   This year I will not be running the Spires Lacrosse program.   I will miss that a great deal.  In retrospect it was that organization and the duty as President that helped me get through some pretty tough years.   The program continues to run well and I wish it the best success now and in the future.    I am still on the Board of Western Maryland Youth Lacrosse or WMYLC.  We are the league that all the teams (200+) in our area play in.  There's a lot to do and we've turned around a program that was having great difficulties to one that has been running smoothly for the past couple of years.  

Michael has started his lacrosse season at Saint John's.   He has turned his grades around and will be on the team this spring.  I think that the sport actually got him motivated finally and focused on the job at hand.   Tyler is wrapping up his high school career and will be graduating in late May!  Hard to believe.   He started working at a pizza shop delivering pizzas a couple weeks ago.  Not a lot of hours but it pays well and he doesn't deliver to any sketchy areas so I'm okay with that.   Yesterday he started working at Holly Hills Country Club again.   He enjoys that and meeting with the members is great interaction for him.   He'll be attending the local community college this fall. 

Heather's Parents a few summers back.

The last couple of weeks have been tough on Heather and her family.   Her father passed away on Feb 14.  He had been battling a brain tumor for over a year.   Her family is very close and were by his side when he passed.      That week was a whirlwind of activity and came to closure when they laid him to rest on the 19th... It brought back a lot of memories, some good and some not so good.   I promised Heather I would be by her side the whole time and I'm glad that I was.   I only knew Dick for about a year and only after he was diagnosed, but learned a lot about him during that short amount of time.   I saw him on Saturday before he died and he and I spoke in detail about several things.   I reassured him of some things and also made some promises to him that I will plan on upholding on my end.   He was a good man and I personally will miss him as he accepted me into his family with an open mind and open arms. 

Cha Cha Slide

This is just a little Cha Cha Slide from the Sweetheart Ball!!!

So... who's still watching?

Full House

Alright folks I'm sorry.   It's been 6 weeks since I've updated my blog.  If you are a regular follower then I have to apologize.   If you are just stumbling by then no apology needed.  

When we last left off.... oh yeah Christmas.  Great Christmas this year.   We spent the entire day with Heather and her kids.   Had breakfast and presents at her home and then had dinner at my house.   Alex's boyfriend, Cory, was in town and he was able to enjoy the day with us as well.   It was really nice and ended with a very large game of Apples to Apples.  Great group game that even Ella enjoyed playing. 

Made by the Wood Whisperer

Tyler continues with his wood working skills.   He's made some very interesting thing recently, but most impressive was a wooden box he made for his girlfriend for Christmas.   He made the hinges out of wood and also put a mirror on the inside.   He's becoming quite handy....    We call him the "Wood Whisperer"!  

The name of the game around here really has been WORK.  I started my new job and have been very, very busy.  I'm learning a lot of new things and doing very well.  I go into the office 2 or 3 days a week and although it's a change from where I've been the last 14 years I enjoy it a lot.   The company is very generous with the employees with many nice furnishings and provide all sorts of food and drinks throughout the week.   In fact Panera comes in 2 times a week with a large assortment of their usual goodies.   I have not traveled any yet but that will soon start up again.   We are ready for it in the house and so am I.

We've done some fixup around the house.  Alex's old bedroom was painted as was the kitchen and family room.  Let's just say we're doing a little early spring clean up.Tyler had some days off of school and very kindly did that for us!   Such a good boy.  

Ella leading the conga line!

Yesterday was a special ball for Ella's girl scout troop.   I was honored to be able to take her so she could be with her friends and we all had a great time.   We met some other kids for dinner before hand and then went on over.   She had a blast and as I put to the other parents there it was a lot like herding cats!  

Well that's it for now.   We continue to live our lives and grow stronger each and every day.   This year will bring some dramatic changes with Tyler graduating, Alex moved out, me working a new job, there's just a lot happening.    I'll keep you posted.

PS!!! Don't call the house number any more.... It's been disconnected!!!!   I cancelled the home phone as we all have cell phones and all we got were solicitations.   Bye for now...

Christmas is upon us....

Kitchen Before & After

Well it seems like the holidays are now right on top of us.   It has been a VERY busy and hectic last month.  To begin Alex was finally able to move into her newly updated condo.   She/we had a lot of work to do in order to get it fully remodeled.   New appliances, new ceramic floors, and best of all new granite counters have transformed her once drab condo into a new thing of beauty and contemporary style!  She has officially left our house and moved in on her own.   Her old bedroom is now totally empty and in dire need of a new paint job!  That is next on our list of to-do's here at home.

December not only brings the holidays but it also brings with it many birthdays!   Michael turned 15 on the 7th!   Hard to believe.  Heather's children also celebrated birthdays as well, Ella is now 7 and Nick turns the big one-eight today!   We all went out on Mike's birthday to a Japanese Steak House and had the hibachi where they cook it front of you.  It was nice and the kids all enjoyed it.   Ella not so much but she was fun none the less!   

Me?  Well that's a new book.   I was forced to look for new employment after I had been working with my current employer in a contract only basis for 9 months.   It worked out well while I was doing it but I had to look out for my own interests and future so I decided to see what was available in the market.  Well I don't know if I was lucky or if the moons lined up just right but I found a place in Reston, VA that was hiring new account executives.   I applied and they called me back 2 days later and said they thought I would be better fit to another role they had in the Sales Engineering department.   I was very qualified and jumped at the opportunity to get back into that role.  After several calls, and a 4+ hour onsite interview with various execs I was offered the job.   This all happened in about 1 week.  In fact, my immediate boss is in Dallas and I only spoke with him on the phone.  

Needless to say I accepted their very generous offer an started work on the 13th!!!  I am a work-from-home employee, but I do have the ability to be in the office whenever needed as I'm about an hour away.  They just move to brand new office space and are located in the Reston Town Center.   The name of the company is Contact Solutions, Inc.   My title is Solution Architect.   I do a lot of client interaction and work with partners and sales people to sell our hosted-IVR solutions to large call centers.

The new job and the holidays have really taken it's toll on me as I'm really exhausted most nights.  I think primarily the holidays with everything that needs to get done and all that really adds to it.  In any event Christmas is in 2 days.  We're all excited for some time off and relaxation.  Merry Christmas to all my friends and followers....

 

Bicentennial Post!!!

Kitchen during demolition

Yes this is my 200th post on this blog.   I had 233 posts on the previous blog at www.christinedewitt.com so I am fast approaching that number...

Laundry room demo

Well I have been very, very busy recently!!!  With working on Alex's condo and starting up my new job search I have really been strapped for time.  On the condo front,  Tyler has helped out as well when he has had the time and we are slowing knocking out some things to make it move-in ready.  Here's a list of things we have done:

• Removed all the old appliances
• Removed the old hot water heater
• Removed all the old vinyl floor in kitchen and laundry room
• Laid down ceramic tiles in those 2 rooms
• Installed/rewired new microwave
• Installed dishwasher and stove
• New toe kick and shoe molding in all rooms
• New faucets in both baths
• Rebuilt vanity in bathroom
• New toilet in master bath
• New ceiling lights
• New outdoor motion light
• Located various leaks to be fixed.

New floor and appliances in!!!

We have a few miscellaneous items to go.   The new counters (granite) come in this week along with a new hot water heater.   New Fridge and washer and dryer follow next week!   It's going to look great!   

Thanksgiving was different this year.   For 20+ years we spent the holiday with Chris's family.   The past 3 years the kids and I had packed up and went to Deep Creek Lake which was a nice getaway.   This year, however, we were invited to spend the holiday with Heather's family down in Urbana, MD.   We had a very nice time and had a chance to meet all of her immediate family including her Mom and Dad. 

The week before Thanksgiving Heather and I went to the Trans-Siberian Orchestra concert in Washington, DC.   It was a great show and I scored some really good seats too!   Really puts you in the holiday spirit.

 Well She did it!!!! After a week's delay from the settlement, Alex settled on her condo today.   She is now the very proud owner of a condo here in Spring Ridge where we currently live!!!   It was a foreclosure so there were some things that had to be done with all the liens on the house and all that but that's over and it is time to move in!!!

Well really we have a lot of work to do on it.  Primarily just the kitchen but a little bit of other stuff too.   You won't recognize it when we're done and it begins tomorrow morning.   Here is the before picture... More to come after that.

There will be a huge party once it is done! 

Time Flies!

Time flies especially when you're having fun!  But I've been busy and that's why I haven't written anything in almost 30 days.  To all my hardcore fans and followers "I am sorry"...   but I do find it harder to find the time to write and really, it's hard to put things down on paper sometimes.   But let me catch you up.

Firstly, Alex is moving out!!!  Bitter sweet for sure.   We happened to stumble across a listing here in Spring Ridge for a condo that she really liked.   It was a bit out of her price range so she put a low offer in.   It was turned down but no counter offer extended.  Hmmm.. oh well.  So we then were able to win a small bidding war for a foreclosure condo in the same location!   Ended up getting that for a steal!!!!   It had brand new carpet and paint all through it.   It is 2 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms.  Needs a few things and we plan on getting a new hot water heater, appliances, granite counters, and ceramic floor tiles in it as soon as we get the keys.   She is supposed to settle this Friday.   Should only take a week or 2 to do the work.  I've got plenty of time on my hands now so I should have no problem getting to it!   She's excited and did this all on her own.  She is getting her very own mortgage with no assistance from anyone else!   We're all very proud of her and she is as well.

A couple of weekends ago was our annual (now it is) fishing with morons trip!   My good friend Danny started taking me and a bunch of other guys out on the Bay the fall after Chris passed away.   We did it then and had a great time and have done it every year since.  Here's a link to when we first started.

It was cold but we still caught some fish and had a great time together.  It's a friendship that I cherish.   These guys have been my friends through thick and thin and have stood by my side through it all.  They would do anything for me and HAVE.


Heather and I had a very special evening a couple weeks back.  Styx came to play in the Warner Theater in Washington DC.   We did see a small snippet of them this summer at a concert with 2 other bands but this was all them and they played their Pieces of Eight, and Grand Illusion albums front to back just like you were playing them on a turntable!   It was a great concert.  Beforehand we went to dinner at Chef Geoff's which is right across the street from the Warner.  The food was fantastic and we would certainly go back!

Oh yeah!   Well Heather's daughter Ella is in the 1st grade and this year she had the option to do a Science fair project.  Well once she knew that Mr. Charlie liked science she was all over it.   She did something that compared how fast ice melted based it's shape.   Lot's of fun and she got a blue ribbon too!!!!   

25 years....

 

 This past Saturday was the Frederick Pink Ribbon 5K race.  This year Tyler decided to take a stab at it.   He was pretty confident in himself before the race.  His training consisted of 1 evening running through the neighborhood and then finding as much pink ribbon stuff that he could find.  Note the pink socks and ribbon headband!   Well the weather was wonderful that morning and he came through with flying colors!!!  He finished on the top of his age bracket (15-20 year olds) and finished 17th overall out of 307 runners!   He even had to stop and tie his shoes 2 times!!!  Congratulations to him.  We're all very proud of him.

The week before that Heather and I were able to get away to National Harbor in Washington, DC and saw the Cirque du Soleil show called OVO.   It was absolutely phenomenal.  Mainly because our seats were on the aisle in the 2nd row, front and center.  Just a wonderful experience.  We went early an walked around the area and had dinner at McCormick and Schmidts before the show.    

Alex is in the final stages of hopefully buying her own home!  We have a bid on a forclosure in our neighborhood and hopefully can come in on top!  She's pre-approved for her mortgage already and we just need to get the right property.  Fingers crossed.

Michael is no longer playing soccer.  Very upsetting but his grades were starting to be impacted by the amount of work and he was not having time to finish homework.  I had to say no more and we're now on a plan to get him back on track...  I went to parent conferences last week as well as back to school night before that.   He is doing very well and we look forward to the coming lacrosse season as well.   The school is just a perfect fit for him.

A little update on the old ankle.   I finally had to see a doctor about it and an MRI showed that I have 2 partial tears on 2 tendons on the outside of my ankle.   It will heal but will take a bit of time.  Time which is absolutely killing me.   I miss the activity of playing basketball and my body is feeling it.  I'm not gaining weight but hope that I can keep it that way!  I'll keep you posted on that!

We had a big, big yard sale a couple weeks back.  REALLY cleaned out a lot of things in the house and attic.   The kids helped go through things and got to see some things that are a real blast from the past.  Some of my old report cards and the like were a real conversation!

Lastly, this time of the year brings many dates about Chris that I have to face.  The first year was horrible with her passing on 9/11 and then her birthday on 9/27.   Then on top of that one week later on October 5th is our wedding anniversary.   All of these dates have been very painful to see come and go,  but with the healing process that I've been going through, the most recent ones were... shall we say bearable?   Really they've come and gone without too much havoc on the emotions.  

This past October 5th was a little different.  This would have been our 25th wedding anniversary.  As I see many of my friends begin to celebrate their 25th anniversaries I find it very hard not to put this one aside.  As with many couples we had plans to celebrate that special date that were never able to come to fruition.  

But, life does have to move on.  It does for the kids, and it certainly does for me as well.  My life is turned around and is very good.   It continues to get better each and every day.  My future is bright and exciting!   Time is the only obstacle now...         I leave you all with a wedding picture from 10/5/85...  Thanks to everyone who has followed my blog and for giving me a reason to live.   If it were not for my blog and having an outlet I would not have been found and would not be anywhere where I am today.