smooshspace

Wally World?

smoosh — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 10:28:33 +0000

And so it begins. The family roadtrip.

We’ve done some long drives to and from cottages before, but the time in the car was simply a means to an end in those cases.

In this case, the journey feels like part of the adventure. We’re off to a place none of us has been to before to visit friends in Walton, KY. (Kentucky for those that think KY is only lube) Along the way we will stop in Sandusky, Ohio for a fun filled water park adventure at Great Wolf Lodge. It’s a bit out of the way, but it’s a pretty awesome place. It must be magical to a 3 year old.

Once we reach Kentucky…I have no idea what’s there or what to expect. Fried chicken on every street corner? I’m blissfully ignorant to all things Kentucky and I kind of like it that way for the moment. It’s like reading a book you randomly pick up at the library, no expectations.

Wish us luck! I hope we can get over the border, because Lily’s passport photo doesn’t look much like her anymore, but we forgot to get it replaced. Fingers crossed

Twitter Weekly Updates for 2010-08-28

smoosh — Sat, 28 Aug 2010 09:00:00 +0000

35 years old today — I never thought I'd make it this long. Not sure if I feel old or young. Perhaps just walking the line in between. #
Finally got around to finishing the Starcraft II campaign. Guess waking up at 2:30 am isn't all bad…. #
@firda Fries and ice cream are great. I used to do it as a kid a lot. in reply to firda #

Twitter Weekly Updates for 2010-08-21

smoosh — Sat, 21 Aug 2010 09:00:00 +0000

Lily's first night in her big girl bed was smooth. No late night adventures…that we know of… #

Twitter Weekly Updates for 2010-08-14

smoosh — Sat, 14 Aug 2010 09:00:00 +0000

I looked at a big fluffy cloud moving slowly across the sky today and thought "Overlord!" And the Starcraft dreams are back. Yay #
Wound up #

Twitter Weekly Updates for 2010-08-07

smoosh — Sat, 07 Aug 2010 09:00:00 +0000

*Sigh* #

Twitter Weekly Updates for 2010-07-31

smoosh — Sat, 31 Jul 2010 09:00:00 +0000

Too much scotchy scotch… #
@victory_manual not at the time you are drinking it….it's later when the quantities show their dark side that are of concern. in reply to victory_manual #
An interesting drama unfolds: http://wardiary.wikileaks.org/ 75,000 US military reports covering the war in Afghanistan leaked. #
Pre-downloading Starcraft II…Weee! #
Starcraft II installed…Ready to play tomorrow night…Huzzah! #
People who leave 1 star reviews are often so crazy and uninformed that it is a joy to read them #
Buy starcraft! We will have epic battles! #
Work time done. Begin cottage time. Brain…shutting down… #

Twitter Weekly Updates for 2010-07-24

smoosh — Sat, 24 Jul 2010 09:00:00 +0000

Dear devs: It's trivial to trim the white space from a text input field so it doesn't throw an error. It's just lazy not to. #petpeeve #
Hanging by a thread but trying to swing and make a game of it. #
Execuitive roadshow question period: 30 minutes of blah blah blah, no real information. #
Good morning, have a happy day #
5pm showing of Predators on a friday night. Me and 2 other guys in the theater so far. Sad or awesome? #

Perspective

smoosh — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 12:34:32 +0000

Over the past week or so life has thrown some darkness my way. So how amid all this can one keep perspective and move on?

What I have found in my time here on good old planet earth is that it is important to take solace in the small but wonderful things that surround me every day.

I take a moment now and then to sit on my deck in the sunlight, close my eyes and simply listen. I breathe in the world as it is with all my senses and let the music of the world, the music of life, wash over me. The birds still sing, the wind still blows, and the sun still warms my skin. Somewhere someone mows the lawn and somewhere someone hammers away, creating something new. It’s in these moments that I see that what is important in life is life itself.

I take a moment and cherish the experience of sitting with my sticky, goofy, wonderful child while she eats her watermelon and stares at the clouds.

“That one looks like me daddy! It has eyes and a mouth!”

When the sun retreats behind a cloud she complains of being cold so I kneel down and wrap my arms around her. “Are you warm now?” “I love you daddy.” Chomp chomp chomp…watermelon really is great isn’t it?

I sit at my computer. I read the words of friends and family. I see the recorded moments of new children, new love and new pains. I see that despite whatever may be happening in my life, life moves on in all its wonder. This makes me smile, and gives me perspective. It’s not all about me and my problems. It’s about everyone. Everyone’s joys, everyone’s pain and everyone’s moments.

With this perspective I move on and embrace my life with all it’s ups and downs. I let it shape me, but not break me. I let it wash over me, but not pull me down. I experience the world, never alone, but a connected and important part of it; making my own music and enjoying the symphony of which I am a part.

That’s how I keep my perspective. That’s how I find a way to smile, whatever comes my way.

Have fun today and take a moment to listen. You may be pleasantly surprised by what you hear.

Why so serious?

smoosh — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 16:14:43 +0000

A final letter and a heavy heart

smoosh — Sun, 18 Jul 2010 12:28:53 +0000

Below, as a matter of public record is a letter to certain members of my family who will not be named, but know who they are.

—————

As you all know I have made choices in my life which differ from many of you. As a result I have been ostracized by my family on a number of occasions. While this is painful, it has been something I have been willing to live with to a point. I have forgiven you numerous times and carried on, respecting your beliefs and your right to them. I have respected your choices and have never spoken any ill will directed to you.

It was my hope that in time you could realize that despite our differing beliefs, I am still a good person who strives at every opportunity to bring love and respect to the world. I have made mistakes along the way as we all have, and I have always trusted that my family would forgive them and respect me for my overall intentions to do good and be a loving and moral person.

Years have passed and I have learned much. Most importantly I have learned how to be a loving husband, father, brother and son. I strive daily to treat others with respect and dignity; lessons I have learned from you, my family, and my upbringing.

Time and time again I have attempted to bridge the gaps that exist in our relationship with kindness and a smile; only to be met with further indignity and slight. I have never tried, nor would I ever dream of making attempt to change or challenge the beliefs that bring you so much joy.

This being said; it is becoming ever more apparent that my hopes of living in a complete family filled with unconditional love, the type of family I hope to raise my daughter in, is simply a dream that cannot be realized given the way in which we have chosen to live our respective lives. Our diverse outlooks are simply incompatible. I have attempted to respect you and your beliefs, but yours preclude any possibility of you respecting mine. In fact, they dictate that you treat me in a manner which can only be described as 20 year cycle of psychological and emotional abuse.

I cannot in good conscience have my daughter exposed to people who subscribe to a belief system that would willingly support the extreme mental and emotional anguish you have each personally chosen to put me through over the last 20 years. I would never put her in that situation at any cost. It is a belief and action that is truly abhorrent to me on every level and goes against everything I ever learned about the concept of a loving God. I struggle with the idea that essentially good people such as yourselves can support it. Because you can; I will not have my beautiful daughter know you in any way.

Please know that I will never forget the good that you have contributed to my life, and I will continue to never speak ill of any of you. However beyond that, I will henceforth cease to speak to you, attempt to include you in my life, or try to engage you on any meaningful level. Rest at ease that you no longer have to make this continued decision for yourselves; no option to the contrary exists for you any longer. Any remaining love and respect I had for you for you has finally been diminished after the years of systemic abuse you have subjected me to. Should we cross paths in future it will now be as strangers to be avoided. You need not worry that we may inadvertently strike up friendly conversation; this option is no longer an option for you.

I hope that this brings you some peace and happiness. It is the cumulative result of the continued affronts and indignities you have served to me and my real family over all of these years.

You may not believe me at this point, but I truly hope that you find your beliefs to be true, for I would never wish upon any of you that you might come to the realization that you have wounded me and our family so deeply — for nothing.

Please know that this has been entirely my decision, and I hope that no one else in our family needs to suffer because I have chosen to be a good person in a different manner than you.

To those reading this for whom it does not apply; I love you and I always will — unconditionally. You are truly wonderful people whom I am proud to call my family.

To the rest; take care of yourselves, find happiness and love in the paths you choose as you walk them without me.

With a heavy heart,

SMSH
July 2010