Someday...

There will be more pictures of me on this blog...

We've had an uneventful, yet busy past couple of days. Benjamin and I were enjoying some play dates with our local group, doing some shopping, and a LOT of house cleaning. Auntie Jill (husband's sister) is coming to visit tomorrow. She will be staying for two weeks.

If you know me, then you know that I was raised in a house where thorough cleaning was the only cleaning. As Emily mentioned before, "no half butt jobs." I'm proud of the fact that I know how to clean and clean well. I don't really like the time it takes, but I'm willing to do it right because that's the only way. LoL :)

Anyway...so I cleaned and cleaned and cleaned some more (because last minute cleaning also seems to be the norm) and Ben was a little cranky from the semi-neglection (is that even a word?). I did let him help me clean the TV screen and throw away some paper towels. I tried to keep him involved...What it really came down to is a nap that was much to short. He's also got some new bottom teeth working their way out.

Now, I would like to talk with you about my new friend the Shop Vac. It's a man's machine and a man's way to clean...but hey, when you're tired and short on time, Shop Vac it all. Crumbs on the counter? Shop Vac. Leftover food on Ben's tray? Shop Vac. Ben unwound and shredded the toilet paper again? Shop Vac. 1974 vacuum cleaner losing suction? Shop Vac. ;)
You get the picture...



Anyway....How's this for the cutest face ever?

Oh, I just remembered. There is a picture of ME and Ben from our play date this past Tuesday...

One moment while I check my system....ok....updating my system....checking my system....ah...yes....

Blog Stalking

I was reading up on some blogging safety tips...So I thought I'd share...(Although, none of the blogs I read are really angry or provoking...)

I found this here.

Lessons in Blogger Security
While I’m no expert on personal online safety I would STRONGLY advise you consider what information you do and don’t reveal online about where you live and your family. While this person tracked me down through offline sources it’s a good reminder that the things you write can often be used to track you down. Here are a few reflections on the experience:

Decide up front how much personal information you will share on your blog - I’ve always been reasonably careful about this. I don’t post my address (I have a PO Box), I don’t post the name of my spouse and I never post her picture or those of other family or friends. If I do post photos I generally ask for permission or make them anonymous.

Consider your offline security - Ask yourself - ‘How easy would it be for someone to find you in real life?’ As I say I was not found directly through information on my blog (although I’m sure knowing my name and city which I reveal in my about pages helped) but through offline sources. I’m sure there are different ways to add layers of security in different parts of the world but consider silent numbers, PO Boxes for mail, being silent on the electoral roll etc.

Consider the way you are perceived online - I work hard at presenting myself online in a fairly easy going, polite and well mannered person (I’m often made fun of for this even). While at times I don’t feel like being this way it is an intentional thing. This is partly because it’s my character and personality (I’m a shy guy who was brought up to always consider the feelings of others) and partly as a security consideration - I don’t want to inflame the wrong person. Obviously it doesn’t always work - but I do worry about some bloggers who seem intent on promoting themselves through angry, attacking and personal attacks. Consider the costs of your actions and words both on yourself and others before you post. You may still choose to take the attacking approach - but do so at your own risk and knowing the full extent of what it could one day lead to.

Have a plan of action - I would strongly recommend giving some thought to how you will deal with escalating situations that could lead to personal safety problems. This is part of the reason I wrote the What to do when your blog is Attacked post a week or so back. In the vast majority of cases things do not escalate to the stalker stage and can be resolved by using some of the strategies I mentioned there. However what if they escalate? At what point will you involve the police? How is the security of your home? etc

Don’t face it Alone - If things do escalate - I would strongly advise that you do not face the situation alone. The resolution of my situation came with the involvement of others. I don’t wish to go into details of this but ‘others’ could mean the help of other bloggers, others who live near you and others with some official and legal ability to help.
Online stalkers are not a common thing to my knowledge and I don’t share my story to scare anyone - but I do think it’s something to be aware of as you blog. Don’t let this kill your blogging but let it be something you give a little thought to in the hope the tiny chances of this happening to you are lessoned even further.

Boredom...

1. WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE? I don't think so...

2. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU CRIED? I honestly can't remember

3. DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING? no, not usually

4. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCH MEAT? Healthy Choice, smoked turkey

5. DO YOU HAVE KIDS? 1

6. IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU? yeah, i'm kind of cool...........

7. DO YOU USE SARCASM A LOT? Probably too much

8. IF YOU COULD CHANGE ONE THING IN YOUR PAST WHAT WOULD IT BE? I would have finished school before moving to Germany

9. ANYTHING YOU WANT TO DO BEFORE YOU DIE? See Benjamin grow up, see more of the world

10. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CEREAl? Raisin Bran Crunch

11. DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF? Nope

12. DO YOU THINK YOU ARE STRONG Physically or Mentally? Both...

13. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM? Plain old vanilla or something with caramel

14. WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE? If they are genuine

15. HOW MANY KEYS ON YOUR KEY CHAIN? 4

16. WHAT IS THE LEAST FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOURSELF? Physically it's my stomach...I talk to much and that sometimes gets me into trouble...and I tend to get walked on because I don't know how to say no

17. WHO DO YOU MISS THE MOST? My Fam

18. WHEN YOU WERE A CHILD WHAT DID YOU WANT TO GROW UP TO BE? A mom :)

19. WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE THING TO WEAR? A t-shirt and my adidas shorts

20. WHAT WAS THE LAST THING YOU ATE? potato soup

21. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW? Benjamin playing

22. IF YOU WHERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE? cerulean blue

23. FAVORITE SMELLS? Freshly mowed grass and thunderstorms

24. WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE? Robert

25. HOW MANY PHONE NUMBERS STORED IN YOUR CELL PHONE? alot

26. FAVORITE SPORTS TO WATCH? basketball

27. HAIR COLOR? medium brown

28. EYE COLOR? brown

29. THREE THINGS IN LIFE YOU CAN'T LIVE WITHOUT? My huband and baby, my camera, and my computer..haha

30. FAVORITE FOOD? anything that i don't have to cook or candy which really isn't a food...

31. SCARY MOVIES, ROMANCE, COMEDY, OR SCI-FI? Comedy and romantic comedy

32. LAST MOVIE YOU WATCHED? license to wed

33. WHAT BABY NAMES DID YOU PICK WHEN YOU WHERE YOUNGER THAT YOU WANTED TO USE WHEN YOU HAD A CHILD, GIRL AND BOY NAMES? Elizabeth for a girl, I didn't want boys

34. SUMMER, WINTER, SPRING, OR FALL? End of Summer beginning of fall

35. HUGS OR KISSES? I'll take both

36. FAVORITE DESSERT? Cheese cake or lorna doone

37. HOW MANY PAIRS OF SHOES DO YOU HAVE? oh...too many

38. LAST THING YOU DID WITH YOUR CHILD? Fed him a snack

39. WHAT BOOK ARE YOU READING NOW? Blink

40. IF YOU HAD 3 WISHES WHAT WOULD THEY BE? For my family to be together always, For Richard to stay out of harms way, to have another healthy baby

41. WHAT DID YOU WATCH ON T.V. LAST NIGHT? We played the wii

42. FAVORITE SOUND? Ben laughing and music

43. ROCK, RAP, JAZZ, R & B, COUNTRY, OR OLDIES? I like it all

44. WHAT IS THE FARTHEST YOU HAVE BEEN FROM HOME? Europe

45. DO YOU HAVE A SPECIAL TALENT? I have a lot of patience, I don't know if that's a talent though

46. WHERE WERE YOU BORN? Jackson, MI

47. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU HAND WROTE SOMEONE A LETTER? A few days ago

48. HOW MANY SIBLINGS DO YOU HAVE? 1 brother, 3 sisters

49. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU GOT TOGETHER WITH THE WHOLE FAMILY? I have no clue, maybe emily's wedding, but Richard wasn't there

50. WHAT IS THE GREATEST THING ABOUT YOUR JOB? Hmm lots of little things.

*We Love Summer*

Yummy Icecream!

Baby Love

Little Icecream Face

I looove corn on the cob!

Wanna play hide and seek?


Play hard, nap long. :)

Father's Day

Happy Father's Day!

2008

Richard, I love you so much and you're a great dad. Benjamin loves you and lights up whenever you come home. Thanks for being everything I wanted in a husband/father to our child and more! I appreciate so much all the help you have been to me recently and always. We love you and we're glad God gave you to us!

Dad, thank you for all of the life lessons you taught me. Even when I didn't want to hear them. Everything from not lying to what is really important in life. I have you (and mom) to thank for my work ethic. How could I have ever gotten anywhere in life if I didn't know how to thorough clean or do rock detail? hehehe. I'm thankful everyday for the family I got to grow up with. I will always appreciate my faith and my values. I know we've had our differences from time to time, lol, but like my card said, raising the best and the brightest is always a challenge. ;) I couldn't ask for a better dad! I love you and miss you!

Dad-in-law, Thank you so much for raising such an outstanding son. He's a great dad and I'm sure some of that greatness came from you. ;) Thank you for accepting me into your family. I've always appreciated being able to just sit and talk with you. I'm glad to be part of your family. We love you!

Hope everyone has a wonderful and relaxing father's day!