Netflix loves me

We've got the cheapest Netflix plan - 2 a month, and we rarely use them both. We used to have the 2-at-a-time plan but then we had to go with a monthly plan at Hollywood Video since that is Grant's major reward for behavior at school. It seems like every time we send a movie back to Netflix, we forget to check our queue and update it with something we want to see so the next movie seems to always be a surprise. It usually ends up being something one of us added a year or so ago and had since completely forgotten about. The movie I watched tonight, the one that had been collecting dust for at least 3 weeks, was one of those.

Fortunately, Netflix smiled on me this time, leaving The Astronaut Farmer in our mailbox for viewing at our discretion. I loved it. I'm such a sap for feel-good, dream-big, change-the-world, strong-family, slightly-outrageous-plot movies. This one had all of that and more and, like this post from a few weeks ago, it had me pondering if I still have dreams to live out. Sure, I have dreams for my family, but are they big enough? How sad is it though that a couple of hours later I still don't have any inkling of my dream? Assuming my final age is anywhere near the average of 77, I'm a little over half way there - when I'm just about to shut my eyes for the last time, what is it that I will look back on and say "I did it"?

What's your big dream or goal? Are you on track to accomplish it?

Before I start building a rocket ship in my backyard I better go check my Netflix queue to make sure the next movie doesn't make me think - any suggestions?

Generations

22 1/2 years ago, I ate a bowl of Frosted Flakes and stayed home. I wasn't feeling well, I said. The next day, it was another excuse and then I just stopped going to football practice. I was small and slow so I wouldn't have made the team anyway, I said. I was 99 lbs and the minimum was 100 lbs, I said. The next year, I said I'd never make it on the team because I hadn't played the year before. And so it went for 4 years; I never played although playing football was my biggest dream. I never even watched a game.

On Friday night, we, along with most of the town, watched the two local high schools go at it in the first round of the CCS playoffs. Our nephew was promoted from JV for the playoffs and we were so proud to see him out on the field. Prior to his freshman year, he had never played football, but he decided he wanted to play and 2 years later he's a star on defense. Earlier this year he had a severe injury completed unrelated to football; most of us were very doubtful that he would play this year, if ever again. But here he is, playing for the varsity after playing every game this year.

Today, we moved Staci's grandparents into an assisted-living home. This move is necessary and it's going to be a much better situation for them. Over the past several years, they've experienced the typical maladies of the typical 80+ year old but they haven't fought it. They haven't worked to improve their lives, they have existed. Although it was quite sad to see this change in their lives, it was even harder to wonder how their lives would be better off if they had exercised or socialized more.

I'm sure their "decision" was much like mine that day, just one bad excuse in an otherwise make-all-the-right-decisions kind of day. Fear of failure, fear of success, or just fear of pain - it doesn't matter which one, it just matters that we gave into it and it kept us from accomplishing our goals and dreams. As I realize these similariites and compare them to the joy of seeing our nephew push past this same fear and accomplish so much, I am going to some serious dreaming and goal-setting over the next few days and weeks and promise that nothing is going to keep myself or my family from living life to the fullest. If I do one day end up living in a room where assistance is required to help me live, it will only be because I have lived every second of every day to its fullest and my body is simply unable to keep up with my dreams.

Until next year

Although we officially have one more day till the month of birthdays is over, today was the end of the real festivities. Three parties, three celebrations of individuals, three opportunities to enjoy friends and family, and of course 3 days marking the last moment of a year we'll never see again.

Grant had the quietest part of the three birthdays, although maybe the most personally satisfying. Birthday cake, blowing candles, and singing Happy Birthday bring true enjoyment to him. Unfortunately, because of his current diet, he's unable to eat birthday cake. Fortunately, Staci and her mom came up with this "cake", which at the very least gave us something to put the candles in. He was so excited to have his own cake and so excited to be part of a birthday party.







Cassidy had several friends over for a swim party and sleepover. As we start the journey into teen-dom, it's encouraging to see her pick quality friends. The girls had a blast!











Owen had the big party this year - friends from school, neighbor friends, family - the backyard was packed today to celebrate Owen turning 5. Of course, after talking about nothing but this party for at least this past week, he didn't want to hang out with his friends for at least the first 30 minutes after they started showing up. Most of his friends were swimming, the rest were playing, and he was hiding out. Once he got over it, he had a great time with his friends, but his favorite was presents and cake.

A month of birthdays

Thursday is the official start to "birthday month" at our house, when each of the 3 kids turns over the next number in the odometer. The unofficial method of celebration is to give a "big" party for the important numbers - whatever that means. So, Owen gets the big party later this month for his 5th; we're still in the early planning stages on that one. Cassidy will have some friends over for swimming/slumbering for her 12th (next year she gets a "big" party). And, Thursday, Grant turns 8.

Grant loves - LOVES - birthdays. He loves the cake. He loves candles. He loves presents. He loves being the birthday boy. He loves watching others celebrate their birthday. Unfortunately, with his diet, regular cake is a bit out of the question. So, hopefully, he will enjoy our best effort at a birthday cake for him - it will look like a cake, it will slice like a cake, will it taste like a cake?

In full disclosure mode, we haven't yet decided what to get Grant. What do you get the boy who asks for nothing? I'm always tempted to go for the "educational" toys - not only will they be fun, he will learn too! Hmm, how many of those toys have actually panned out? Not many. Nah, I think it's best to just get him something he will enjoy. Let's see, what does he enjoy?
gameboy/gamecube games
teletubbies/dora/blues clues/toy story - you get the idea
swimming
trampolines
swings


Now, how do we translate that into gifts by Thursday? Help?!

How old am I?

I'm one of those guys who never sees the doctor when he should, and usually not even after he should. I'd rather let a cold die off by itself, even it means a bit more suffering. Infection? My body can heal it. But, I've had this cyst growing on the back of my neck for about a year now, and it was finally starting to bug me, enough that I actually made an appt to go see the doc about getting it cut out. When I asked my wife "guess what I did today", she never came close to guessing that I saw the doc. The cyst is no big deal, it just needs some local surgery. I also had the doc check out some moles to make sure they aren't skin cancer (I've known 2 people recently who've had it); there is one that we need to watch, but nothing immediate.

So, the doc asked me to get some blood work done (the appt was last week) and she'd check for the usual problems. Today, I had the appt to go over the results - all is well... except I have "high cholesterol". C'mon, I'm just a kid, right? Isn't "high cholesterol" that stuff Florence Henderson used to sell on commercials? I'm invincible! I don't get sick, I don't get hurt, not me! I'm sure the doc saw some of those thoughts in my eyes as she told me that my count is actually pretty high (264 total, 197 LDL), it's not just a "wait and see" type of count. She showed me a few pictures of blood vessels and such, but I was mostly thinking about how I would need to do some "real" research later.

Once I actually submit to the idea that this might actually be a real issue for me, it appears that the 2 main changes would be diet and exercise. Fortunately, we started exercising at the Y back in about November. We've been trying to go twice a week, but it looks like I'm gonna have to do more. As for diet, I'm not sure our diet was that bad before, but it's really changed in the past few months with Grant's dietary changes. We've been trying to have him eat the same foods with us and that of course has meant a pretty drastic restriction in our menus. Of course, that doesn't cover lunches while at work, or my really bad habit of snacking late at night.

Oh, c'mon - say it ain't so! One thing's for sure, I'm going to have to cut down on my 100x100 burgers at In N Out.