Sometimes, we can expect no more from a man than what he has given; this amount is often directly connected to what he has come to expect of himself. One secret to getting along with folks is understanding that nothing more will come from this person, no matter how badly we think it should. Obviously, this may lead to great disappointment on our part, but that is only the proximate viewpoint. Ultimately, we begin to understand what it is that person is ‘good for’ in our lives. Some then choose to fill in the inevitable gaps with other relationships, seeking out people who provide something different than our other friend. Practical? Self-centered? Parasitic? Most certainly. But if we think we aren’t these things, we’re only deceiving ourselves. Why does unrequited love hurt so? Because we need, pure and simple. We use people to fulfill our needs. We make it acceptable by constructing a barter relationship with those who most effectively meet our needs; I can’t think of one right now but I am sure the great Johnny Cash sang a lyric stating this truth. The other part of the agreement is to never lay it out like this. To speak of it would make it feel dirty, business-like. I suspect people 100 years ago understood this when they took their marriage vows. Think back to the old western movies you’ve seen and references to ‘barren’ women–a man wants a woman, at the most base level, because she will give him children. A woman without that capacity ‘ain’t good for marryin’.’ The same rejection applied to a man who couldn’t or wouldn’t work; what’s he good for if he doesn’t have strong arms with which to labor?

Ask me what I am writing about, where this came from, why I am thinking about such things and I will tell you I surely don’t know. I suppose this is the kind of thing you get when you just sit down and start typing with no particular direction or purpose in mind.

As usually, we have been busy.  We went camping up in McCall, Idaho during the 4th of July weekend.  I went to Las Vegas the next weekend with a friend whose husband is currently deployed. We had a good time. I learned to play blackjack at the tables in the Stratosphere.  Almost lost all the money I took with me but won it all back and more on the e-bay slot machines in the Luxor. This past weekend we watched our neighbors two children (Cliffy, 8 months and Ashley, 4 years). Boy babies are much different than girl babys.  Needless to say, trying to watch a baby, 2 year old and 4 year old is exausting! However, I actually felt like I accomplished something! Not sure how Jason feels about the experience? I have decided to go back to school and get a management/human resource degree. I start classes in mid-august. Jason is continuing paralegal classes and will be taking two classes this fall.  Maggie continues to be very busy.  We bought her a little bike to ride.  She still loves the swings and I am hoping this fall to buy a swingset for her to play on in the backyard.  Jason will be camping this weekend scoping out hunting spots.  He sold his truck (yeah!) and bought a 4-runner.  I am hoping for us to head back to Sun Valley for a weekend before fall comes.  I have become a big fan of that area!  And, finally, we are visiting with my parents and brother in Portland for a week. We are looking forward to some real seafood and spending time with family.  Whew…we are busy.  Of course, once fall and cold weather kicks in we will be doing practally nothing.

The three of us were getting ready for dinner, to include Maggie climbing up into her height chair. On her way up, she told Erin she was a ‘poopyhead.’ Erin responded by asking her what she was. Maggie said, “I an angel!”

We have only one idea where Maggie might have picked up the poopyhead thing–it is Erin’s term of endearment for me. The problem is, she hasn’t called me that for a while, at least as best as we can remember. Then again, Maggie has been displaying a seemingly superhuman memory lately, so maybe we don’t remember Erin saying it but Maggie did. Anyway, ‘Angel’ is Erin’s nickname for Maggie, so it’s pretty funny how the little one put it all together.

And, yes, we told Maggie not to say ‘poopyhead’ at school because it would get her in trouble. It might not be all that bad though–kids at Maggie’s age are beginning to name-call, so Maggie will be out front of the trend and be the pacesetter. That’s a good character trait, no?

” Dance with Me” “How much I feel” “Biggest part of me” and “Dancing in the moonlight”

It was pretty ridiculous I could actually sing the words to these songs. After the concert, Denise, myself and two other women from work went to IHOP with some of their friends. I didn’t make it home until 2:00am. Maggie, of course, did her nightly ritual of waking up 2-3 times that night. I was pretty much a zombie on Saturday due to the fact I only got about 3 hours of sleep.

This questioning came in the cute form the other day. She and I spent a daddy and daughter day in Boise on Friday because Erin had to work and Maggie’s daycare was closed. Since we have been contemplating buying bike and a tow-behind trailer, she and I went to Target to see what they have to offer. I found one I liked, got it down off the shelf, and began pedaling down one of the aisles. From her perch in the cart, Maggie said, “Going, daddy?” She actually thought I was going somewhere, that I might leave her there. Like I said–cute.