Scar

This is my scar 9 days after the triple bypass. Although it was physically and emotionally traumatizing, I can't believe I feel so go so quickly. I had what they call a left-sided failure. Most people with this condition die from a heart attack before they even discover they have a problem and according to the doctors, the Grim Reaper has been holding my hand for a few months now. Fortunately, I was in the best shape of my life and recognized something was wrong when I started having shortness of breath. My cardiologist got me into surgery before I had a stroke or heart attack or worse and added 25 years to my life with my remodeled healthy heart. He also tells me that I will be better, faster and stronger than before once I fully recover. The way I look at it, this scar is more a symbol of my good fortune than anything. Many thanks to my family, friends and wonderful girlfriend for their love and support.

Max & Cats

Our cats, Mr. Liger and Baby Bell, love to chill with Maxwell. Of course, Maxwell is wearing my clothes because it is easier than doing his laundry.

Oh Shit!

So when I drive up behind Leroy, I have to slow to an immediate crawl because he is driving the company van at 20 mph. Meanwhile, little Bobby, in the car behind me, decides to toss his Power Ranger out the window. Mommy turns around and starts chastising little Bobby. Unfortunately, Mommy forgets that she is driving a car going 65 mph. I hear tires squealing and look in my rear view mirror. Mommy's and my eyes lock. We both mouth, "Oh Shit!" in perfect unison.

Never let the 10 year old drive

My son, Maxwell (10), and I took an ATV ride in December 2004 during a trip to South Carolina. I made the mistake of letting Maxwell drive.

Memories

I found a bunch of digital photos on an old computer and I've been rummaging through them finding treasure after treasure.

Maxwell & Freddy

Maxwell (15) gives Freddy Marfort, our Muay Thai instructor, a front kick and right jab. Trevor (14) looks on from the background in hope that Freddy will give big brother Maxwell some much deserved payback.

Muay Thai (Revised)

This is a repost of the picture I posted a few days ago. Scroll down if you want to see the original. I used some photo retouching to turn a blurry picture taken with my iPhone into a cool artsy picture of my sons going at it. I like the picture because it shows their personalities. You've got athletic big brother Maxwell (15) preparing to attack with a sidekick (always the alpha male) while little Trevor (14) stands his ground in a proper fighting stance he learned in class. Trevor may lack some natural skill but he makes up for it with attitude and effort.

Trevor

Here's Trevor (14) striking a fighting pose and trying to look bad. Don't be fooled though. This kid is full of sugar and quick to apologize if he catches you with a right cross.

Friday Night Fights

Posed for a picture with my boys after we finished Muay Thai practice tonight. I get the boys every other Friday and since it's not a school night we start the weekend doing what we love.

Muay Thai

The latest passion at the Stroup household is Muay Thai kickboxing. Trevor 14 (blue shirt) is in his fighting stance as Maxwell 15 (white shirt) prepares a loving round-house kick. We train at the World Championship Martian Arts Center in Coral Springs, Florida with instructors Jeff Liotta and Freddie Marfort. This place is totally kick ass.

An Officer and a Gentleman

Maxwell got to wear his new JROTC uniform to school for the first time today. Although Maxwell is smiling in this picture, I have 47 photos I took at home where he is scowling and frowning. As Maxwell marched off to school this morning he was grousing that he felt like a total dork and that his gay-looking patent leather shoes were too tight (he was wearing size 10½ which his instructor immediately exchanged for a size 14 - OUCH!!!!). When Max returned home after school, I asked him if the other kids gave him a lot of flack about the uniform and he immediately gave me a coy grin. Evidently, the girls were whistling at him and telling him that he was looking spiffy and that they just loved a man in uniform. Earlier this evening, I caught Maxwell in his bedroom ironing his shirt and polishing those patent leathers and boy-oh-boy did he have a big smile on his face.

(Editors Note: JROTC is fine for now but there ain't a chance in hell I will I let my son enlist in the military)

The Cardio Kids

Cardio isn't much fun but I love it when the boys join me at LA Fitness. Max and Trev love to work out but I also reward their exercise with a little Xbox time. For example, on Saturday the boys took an hour long Pilates class and then knocked out 30 minutes of cardio and another 30 minutes of general exercises including weights, lunges, push-ups, etc. For their efforts, they earned 2 hours on the Xbox and I don't feel guilty when I see them sitting on the sofa killing their friends. I'm quite pleased to admit, they are looking very fit.

All Choked Up

The boys try their handiwork at making short films using their camera phones. They made 6 films in all, pretty much in the same genre, that is Trevor getting smacked around by Big Brother Maxwell. At the end of each film, Trevor gives us the Thumbs-Up to assure us that he is alright.

The Freshman

Maxwell attended Freshman Orientation at Marjorie Stoneman Douglas (MSD) today in preparation for classes which commence next week. When I look at this 6'1", 175 lbs, gauky teenager in his boat-like size 13 shoes, I can't believe that I used to hold him in my hands when he was an infant while he mewed like a kitten and tried to nurse on my fingers. Then I blinked and he turned into a man.

Pump It

Since my boys are totally into physical fitness, I gave them each a session with my personal trainer so they could see how hard their old man works out. My trainer, Cesar Chilmaza, specializes in functional training and can make a 45 minute session seem like eternity. You really work your butt off but it is worth every agonizing second. Here, Cesar helps Trevor pump out an inhumane number of push ups right before he introduces him to the dreaded lunges.

Wiped Out

Let me just say that snorkeling is one of the most exhausting sports there is. Maxwell crashed immediately when he got back on the boat. Trevor found a spot on the bow. Dad stayed awake to enjoy the scenery.

2 Coconuts

Our dear friends the Flanigans invited us to their beach house in The Keys for the weekend. Barry Flanigan took us about 6 miles offshore to do some snorkeling in the lovely turquoise waters. The boys look like a couple of German Shepherd pups with their oversized fuzzy heads.

Guts

When you wrestle, matches are determined by weight class. They don't pair you up by age or strength or physical maturity. For a 165 lbs, almost 6' boy going into the 8th grade, this can be a problem. In Trevor's case, he has to wrestle guys going into their junior or senior year of high school. He doesn't get to wrestle the human-sized boys his own age. However, Trevor keeps going out on the mat. He never complains or shows fear but always gives 100%. "I'm getting good experience Dad," he'll pant after the match. As far as I'm concerned, Trevor wins every match through his demonstration of guts. It makes a father proud. I have to admit though, when I caught up with this punk choking Trevor, I stuck his head in a toilet.

Table for Two

I was digging around in the My Pictures folder when I stumbled across this gem. I think the photo was taken in 1998 which would put Maxwell at 5 and Trevor at 3. The boys didn't even take up the length of the table yet. I wonder why Maxwell found it necessary to wear a wristwatch.

Brotherly Love

So we are at a wrestling tournament last weekend and Max, who is a pretty good wrestler, is down 0-3 and he doesn't like to lose. I'm running a scorer's table when Max gives me his match ticket that includes his name and little brother Trevor's. I look up at Max as he tries to explain with a sheepish grin that this will give Trevor good experience because they have wrestled each other before and blah, blah, blah. I reply, "I know what you're up to and you'd better not break his neck." Max promises and goes to collect Trevor. I smile and prepare my camera.

Upside Down

As a parent you often get caught up in the dailyness of life and don't realize your children growing and maturing and changing. Then your child demonstrates some new ability or talent or quality that turns your perception of them upside down. The other day at wrestling practice Max gives me a hey-Dad-watch-this and demonstrates that he is no longer a little boy but a big strapping young man who is more athletic than his old man ever was or ever will be.

Trevor's Piano Recital

Trevor played "From a Distance" by Bette Midler during his second piano recital and gave a flawless performance after some initial hesitation. Big Brother Maxwell was on hand but resisted the temptation to mock poor little Trevor. Probably because Camera Man Dad was giving him the Don't-you-say-one-word look.

Allergic to North Carolina

Poor Trevor woke up with hives from head to toe. It seems he is allergic to North Carolina. After I brought him back from the doctor, he took a 4 hour nap. Hopefully the medicine helps and he'll be doing better tomorrow. We're just going to hang out at the house and take the day off.

Spelunkers

Today, I'm taking the gang to Morril's Cave near Elizabethton, Tennessee for our very first caving expedition. Shellsea, Max and Trevor are all excited and ready to explore.

One size fits all (Not!)

And I thought the whitewater rafting helmut was small.