Little Buddies

Trevor is hanging with Raven and Ryo Reis on the back deck of the house. I snuck up on them and caught them pretending to be Elfs and Orks and other monstrosities.

Trevor & Jake

Trevor's giving Jake a nice relaxing massage and cooing tenderly. "Nice boy, Jake. You're such a good dog." Jake seems to be enjoying it.

Max & Chief

These puppies are just 12 and 2 years old. Pretty big, huh? The Reis's neighbors, the Bond Family, have a couple of big dogs, Chief and Jake, that the kids have decided to borrow for a few days.

Hunting Squirrels

Max and Trevor are trying to russle up a little squirrel meat with their new BB guns. I told them they have to eat what they kill. Sure hope I don't have to enforce it.

Home on the Range

This is Adrian and Teresa's beautiful country home near Spartansburg, SC. They are great friends and wonderful hosts. This is the 3rd New Year's we've stayed with them.

Terminator Jr.

My Maxwell is having the time of his life. He got a BB gun for Christmas but naturally prefers shooting the shotgun.

Terminator

I finally got the opportunity to test out my 12 gauge Remington shotgun (I've only had it a year). Maybe I should post this pic on Match.com. What do you think ladies? Kinda sexy, huh?

Guns & Fun

Finally arrived at the Triple R Ranch to hang with our dear friends the Reis Family. We're out having some good ol' Redneck entertainment shooting guns. From the left it is Adrian Reis, Trevor Stroup (10), Maxwell Stroup (12), Ryan Boudreau, Ryo Reis (5), myself, and Raven Reis (6).

On the road again

We're taking an 800 mile road trip to South Carolina for the New Year. Little Trevor is crashed out in the back seat as usual.

Brothers

Christmas Day! I picked up the boys around 6 p.m. and we came home to open presents. The boys got BB guns and computer stuff, so they are naturally very happy. Later on, I caught them hanging out, talking and laughing and just being brothers.

We leave bright and early tomorrow morning for South Carolina. We are going to welcome in the new year with our dear friends Adrian, Teresa, Ryan, Raven and Ryo Reis.

Merry Chistmas everyone!

Max Solomon's Shortcut

On the way to the game, my buddy Max talked about his secret parking place. "We park at this guys house for $10 and only have a 3 minute walk to the stadium. It's cheaper and we avoid all of the traffic." He neglected to tell me we'd have to use a home-made ladder to scale a 12' wall on our way to the game. It's always an adventure with Max.

Go Dolphins!

Yeah, we got hurricanes beating us up in South Florida. But it's still great being 30 minutes away from a live game. Thanks for the invite, Max.

135 mph

Thanks to my friend Max for letting me borrow his GTO. I didn't realize this car went so fast.

Family Reunion

I came across this old picture taken in Indiana one week before 9/11. You can tell that Trevor is developing a sense of humor. I've got my hand on him trying to insure we get a nice picture. Grandpa Jon is just glad to see me getting a little payback.

Run Trevor Run

Trevor is giving it a run for the money. We have a nice little gym at the Promenade and my sons and I workout frequently. They are always excited to hit the gym. I never have to push them to join me. I am glad I had sons.

Pumping Iron

Look at this stud pumping iron. Dressed in black. The obligatory iPod hanging from his neck. No expression on his face. God, I wish I would have been this cool at 12.

Waiting Room

Trevor (right) fidgets while he waits for his orthodontics' appointment . It's time to get those braces tightened. His brother, Maxwell, is chillin' with my new ipod, which he confiscates whenever we are together. I am just sitting here checking out the good looking moms.

Wrist Slitter

Started out the weekend with an emergency trip to the doctor. Max decided to open a box and his wrist with one of my sharp kitchen knives. Lots of blood and panic, but Maxwell is going to live.

New Rule: Kitchen knives are to be used for food only.

Order

I can relax. Wilma was a big change of plans but we got moved and are about 90% unpacked. Heck, the laundry is even done. The boys were excited to move into their new rooms and wanted to know if they could go to bed early tonight. I let them.

Chaos

I am officially residing in my new digs. It is a very nice 3 Bedroom/2 Bath townhouse in Coral Springs, Florida. I am really looking forward to living here (after I unpack and organize this mess).

Moving Day

Time to leave this sweet little house after only 4 months (thank you Wilma). Everything is packed and ready to go. I am just waiting on the muscle to arrive and load my stuff. Then, Yours Truly gets to drive this big rig to the new digs out in Coral Springs. Wish me luck.

We have PlayStation!

I finally have a break from my children now that they are hypnotized. No more chanting:

1. Keep your hands off of your brother!
2. Quit lighting the lighter!
3. Be careful with that candle!
4. Don't light anymore candles!
5. Quit blowing out the candles!
6. Don't shine the flashlight in my face!
7. Don't shine the flashlight in your brother's face!
8. This is all we have to eat, so eat it!
9. Repeat 1-8.

I am parking my kids in front of the PlayStation for a few hours and enjoying some of those wonderful Buds my friend Shawn dropped off in the previous post. God, I am so happy right now!

Relief supplies have arrived!

God bless my dear friend Shawn Salyers. He dropped off a 12-pack of Bud Light and a bag of ice. I love you Shawn!

Oh yeah, he brought a generator too.

Monotony and Monopoly

Q: What's the only thing more boring than being stranded without electricity and gasoline?
A: Playing Monopoly.

My God this this game is painful. Fortunately, my children play Monopoly using their revised rule. This rule allows you to start building hotels on a property as soon as it is purchased. You don't wait until you have acquired the other properties in its set before you can start building. Thankfully, this brilliant wonderful little rule shortens your typical game of Monopy from 12 to 3 hours. It is almost tolerable.

Boys and Fire

We're sitting out front and the boys are playing with a candle, burning pieces of grass and just doing boy-stuff. No homework. No school. No TV. No video games. No anything. Kind of peaceful for a change.

Blue Roof

The roof is tarped so I don't have to worry about more damage from the rain. I don't have electric or water but no one else does either. The weather has been nice and cool making the days and evenings quite pleasant. However, when it starts to warm up this weekend, people will begin to complain.

Hair-Raising Experience

I don't want to go through that again! But thankfully I survived. I had just walked out of my kitchen when the tree came crashing through through the roof, so I am alive and uninjured. My children are fine. They rode out the storm at their mother's house with their big brother, Ryan, keeping an eye on them. My cats Bell and Liger are safe, but they've been using the litterbox a lot. They don't know what in the heck happened. The tree destroyed my kitchen but if it would have hit another section of my house, it could have destroyed the electronics and new furniture I recently purchased. My dear friend Adrian has provided food and lodging for the last 2 evenings and helped me put a temporary cover on my roof. Tomorrow, my boys are coming over and we are going to campout at my house, probably for the last time. Things aren't too good, but they could have been a lot worse.

Thank God for good luck and good friends!

What did I say about shoveling snow?

It looks like I will have to shovel some snow after all. See my Wilma!!! post. Now that the storm's over, I am surveying the damage and starting to realize the implications of this mess. The house isn't habitable and probably won't be for some time. The rest of the house is OK but it won't see electricity for 3-6 months. All my neighbors are safe but no one knows what's going on in South Florida yet. We don't know how bad or widespread the damage is.

Atleast I wasn't in this room when the tree fell. I had just left the kitchen and was peeking out the front door when it happened. I called Amy and the boys are safe. Life is good.

This is the culprit

This is the culprit that smashed though the kitchen ceiling. It scared the you-know-what out of me.

Ouch!

Just left the kitchen right before this smashed through the roof. I spent the rest of Wilma sitting on the floor in the bathroom.

Timber!

Wilma's doing some landscaping in the back yard. I can see through Max's bedroom now that a shutter has been ripped off.

Wilma!!!!

I just snapped a pic of the tree that fell down in my front yard. The kids will be glad because they hated picking up its constant barrage of leafs. Now, I'm crouched in the bathroom listening to things shake and things break and things explode outside. My hurricane shutters are up and it's still scary as Hell. What I wouldn't give to be back up in Indiana shoveling snow right now. If I don't make it, tell my children I love them.

Cell Phone Rules

If you plan on getting your adolescent child a cell phone, may I suggest the following rules that I've enacted?

• You can not call me if you are within 30 feet of me (e.g. the backseat of the car).
  
• If you use your camera phone to take another picture of me or your brother in our underwear, you lose the phone.
  
• Do not use your camera phone to send me pictures of your bowel movements or close-ups of the cat's butthole.

More rules will be coming soon. You can count on it.

Reasons not to buy your child a camera phone (Part 1)

Maxwell started junior high this year, so I got him a cell phone for my convenience and his safety. Unfortunately, I chose a camera phone enabling Maxwell to send me wonderful pictures like this at 40¢ a pop. Thanks a lot Max. What did you learn in school today?

Reasons not to buy your child a camera phone (Part 2)

As you can tell, Max's humor is becoming more and more sophisticated. Max claims this is an imitation of his brother, Trevor.

Breakfast Club

Snapped this pic of the boys and their cousin feeding their tired faces at the family reunion. They are never too tired to eat.

Good Times

This picture is from a 2003 trip to Sugar Key near Tampa, Florida. Every parent loves nothing more than hearing their children laugh and seeing them smile.

Let me out!

I stumbled across this picture of Bell I snapped during her first visit to the vet. As you can see, she's not too fond of the kitty carrier. It only took me 20 minutes to catch Bell and put her inside.

Room with a View

Instead of enjoying the view, the kids were upset I wouldn't let them spit off the balcony.

Satin Sheets

I couldn't pass up this picture of my little angel. Don't be fooled though. He is a blanket-stealer and hell to sleep with.

The Signature Cookie

Max partakes in one of the renowned Signature Cookies offered at the Ritz. I think he knocked down about 20 over the weekend.

Spoiled Rich Kid

Trevor is refusing to mug for the camera and doing his impersonation of a spoiled rich kid.

Vacation in Paradise

I am finally posting some pics from our vacation at the Ritz Carlton in Naples, Florida. We were guests of our dear friends Arty and Debbie Palermo (Arty is also my trusted accountant). The beaches of Naples are gorgeous and the hotel is absolutely luxurious. I am definitely motivated to work harder.

Homework (Ugh!)

Unfortunately, Max is spending the weekend catching up on homework. I sneak back to his bedroom every once in a while and catch him teasing the kittens with the laser-pointer. Notice the legos he is pretending to ignore on his desk.

PS2 Trance

Let me begin by stating that I put strict limits on video game time. However, after Trevor finishes his mandatory reading (currently he's reading 'The Hobbit'), he like to play 'Lord of the Rings' on the PS2 and kill a few goblins and orcs of his own.

Piano Man

Trevor has been taking piano lessons for almost a year now and is showing great improvement. He is playing 'Shave and a Haircut' for me which is a perfect accompaniment to his new Eddie Munster haircut.

Story Time

Max reads a story to our dear friends Raven and Ryo Reis while Trevor listens.

Scruffy and Scruffy Jr.

Max and I are having a Max-and-Dad day. Trevor's staying with friends while Max and I grab breakfast. We are going to spend the rest of the day hanging out and doing fun stuff. I suggest parents with multiple children schedule one-on-one dates with each of their children. It's lots of fun and you get to see a different side of your child's personality (plus you don't have to referee arguments).

P.S. My hair looks like crap and Max has a zit between the eyes, but hey, that's life in the real world.

Avid Reader

Lemony Snicket has turned Trev into an avid reader with his 'A Series of Unfortunate Events' chapter books. Trev just started book 9 of 11 and is eating it up.

Wiped Out

Poor little Liger and Bell are wiped out. When I find them cuddling like this, I am glad the boys talked me into a second kitten.

Safe at home

Everyone is happy to be home. My wallet is a couple hundred dollars lighter from the vet bill, but my beloved new leather living room furniture is finally safe.