Just made the offer today - then after one back and forth, it was accepted! Still need to get my house sold, but this one was going to go fast if I didn't move on it.
Friday, March 28, 2008
Introducing . . .
my new house! Don't want to take away any of Karie's thunder, but since she shared photos of her house, here are mine:
Just made the offer today - then after one back and forth, it was accepted! Still need to get my house sold, but this one was going to go fast if I didn't move on it.
Just made the offer today - then after one back and forth, it was accepted! Still need to get my house sold, but this one was going to go fast if I didn't move on it.
Monday, March 24, 2008
Out of state
I tried to call the boys at their mother's house on Saturday night. There was no answer and I had to leave a message. Then, on Sunday night, I tried calling again. No answer - this time I left a message saying I would call back in half an hour. After 30 minutes, I tried again. Again, voicemail. I wanted to wish the boys a Happy Easter.
Then, about 30 minutes later, the phone rings. Its Leo on Karen's cell phone. We had a good chat - until he said he was at Nana's house. I stayed calm and continued talking to Leo. He had a fun day - got chocolate bunnies for Easter. Then I talked to Daniel, but it was late and he was very tired. Then we said good night.
So, here's the part that got me mad. She never told me she was taking the boys to her mother's house for the weekend. Her mother lives on Long Island - in New York. By doing this, she violated the terms of our divorce agreement. It specifically says that neither party can remove the children from the state without advance notice to the other party of at least seven days, and must provide the other party with the locations where they will be with contact phone numbers.
So, now I have to write her another e-mail about something she has done which goes against our agreement. I know it was only to her mother's, and I'm sure the boys had a good time. But something could have happened, and I would of had no idea they were even out of state.
Then, about 30 minutes later, the phone rings. Its Leo on Karen's cell phone. We had a good chat - until he said he was at Nana's house. I stayed calm and continued talking to Leo. He had a fun day - got chocolate bunnies for Easter. Then I talked to Daniel, but it was late and he was very tired. Then we said good night.
So, here's the part that got me mad. She never told me she was taking the boys to her mother's house for the weekend. Her mother lives on Long Island - in New York. By doing this, she violated the terms of our divorce agreement. It specifically says that neither party can remove the children from the state without advance notice to the other party of at least seven days, and must provide the other party with the locations where they will be with contact phone numbers.
So, now I have to write her another e-mail about something she has done which goes against our agreement. I know it was only to her mother's, and I'm sure the boys had a good time. But something could have happened, and I would of had no idea they were even out of state.
Sunday, March 23, 2008
Vegetarian
Leo, again. I go to pick him up from school on Thursday, and Laura, one of his teachers, asks me if Leo is a vegetarian. I tell her no. She tells me that Leo asked her if what they had served him at lunch was meat. She said yes. Leo then told her that he is a vegetarian and the meat used to be alive.
Now, during our divorce, whether we raised the kids to be vegetarians was a huge issue. I knew Karen was vegetarian when I married her. She told me she hadn't always been vegetarian. She grew up eating meat - hot dogs, hamburgers, steak, chicken. I believe she told me that it was sometime in college she stopped eating meat. She's not a vegan or anything that extreme - it was more about eating something that had a consciousness.
At home, I respected her beliefs and never brought meat into the house. We ate a lot of bean dishes, experimenting with Indian and Eastern cuisine. I got my fill of meat during lunches at work, or whenever we went out to a restaurant to eat. In fact, she encouraged me to have meat when we ate out, knowing I was sacrificing what I liked at home for her beliefs. And when her mom visited, she always went shopping for meat and would cook lamb or other meat dishes for dinner for her and I while Karen ate something else.
After Leo was born, I remember a conversation we had about whether he would be raised as a vegetarian. I thought that as long as he got the protein he needed as a baby eating non-meat baby food, that would be okay. But as he got older, it would be his choice as to whether he ate meat or not. I specifically remember telling Karen that when I took Leo to Fenway Park to see a Red Sox game, we would have Fenway Franks together (or at least I would offer one to him). So Leo, and then Daniel, never ate meat as a baby.
However, once Leo was in daycare, they served meat at lunch. Karen first tried to get them to serve him other non-meat foods, but KinderCare was not really set up for vegetarian diets. So Leo started eating meat at school. I then began to offer him meat when I was out with the boys - Chicken McNuggets when we were at McDonalds (he ate them), and ham & cheese sandwiches at Panera (he ate that as well). Once Daniel started eating non-baby food, he ate meat as well, both at daycare and when he was out with me.
During the divorce, this became an issue after I started buying meat at the store - not anything like steaks, but since I spent every night and all weekend at home every week with the boys, I bought a lot of hot pockets and other prepared foods that included meat. One particular day I was having lunch with the boys at home - I believe I made them peanut butter and jelly while I had a ham and cheese hot pocket. Leo and Daniel wanted pieces of my sandwich, which I was giving them (and they were eating) when Karen came home from whatever she was doing and saw the boys eating ham. She got upset, demanding I not let the boys eat meat. We got into a big argument with no resolution. A couple of days later my attorney received a letter from her attorney threatening legal action regarding the 'vegetarian issue'. We responded with the facts, and the issue died for the time being.
It later came up again while meeting with the Guardian Ad Litem - he asked me questions about what happened - I told him my belief that it was a choice for the boys to make on their own, and he agreed with me.
After the divorce when we switched daycare providers, the boys continued to be offered meat at school. I also routinely give them meat at home, although Leo has developed an aversion to hot dogs. Then, a couple of months ago, I remember first hearing Leo say that he was a vegetarian. I thought it was just something he had heard Karen say and didn't think much of it. He has since repeated it again a few times, but I didn't think it was a big deal, as kids often repeat things they hear.
But now, its a serious issue. Leo skipped a meal at school. And, I believe he is being brainwashed by Karen into believing he does not eat meat. I sent Karen an e-mail on Friday demanding she stop her actions and explain to Leo that it is his choice. Meanwhile, I'm thinking I am going to take Leo to the grocery store and spend some time showing him all of the different foods there are, including the meat section, and that all of the foods offer different protein and vitamins for us to grow healthy and strong. Ultimately, it will be Leo's choice, but I don't think that either of us should make that choice for him. If we were both vegetarians and raised him that way, that would be different. But since we have opposite beliefs on the matter, neither of us should force our beliefs on him.
Now, during our divorce, whether we raised the kids to be vegetarians was a huge issue. I knew Karen was vegetarian when I married her. She told me she hadn't always been vegetarian. She grew up eating meat - hot dogs, hamburgers, steak, chicken. I believe she told me that it was sometime in college she stopped eating meat. She's not a vegan or anything that extreme - it was more about eating something that had a consciousness.
At home, I respected her beliefs and never brought meat into the house. We ate a lot of bean dishes, experimenting with Indian and Eastern cuisine. I got my fill of meat during lunches at work, or whenever we went out to a restaurant to eat. In fact, she encouraged me to have meat when we ate out, knowing I was sacrificing what I liked at home for her beliefs. And when her mom visited, she always went shopping for meat and would cook lamb or other meat dishes for dinner for her and I while Karen ate something else.
After Leo was born, I remember a conversation we had about whether he would be raised as a vegetarian. I thought that as long as he got the protein he needed as a baby eating non-meat baby food, that would be okay. But as he got older, it would be his choice as to whether he ate meat or not. I specifically remember telling Karen that when I took Leo to Fenway Park to see a Red Sox game, we would have Fenway Franks together (or at least I would offer one to him). So Leo, and then Daniel, never ate meat as a baby.
However, once Leo was in daycare, they served meat at lunch. Karen first tried to get them to serve him other non-meat foods, but KinderCare was not really set up for vegetarian diets. So Leo started eating meat at school. I then began to offer him meat when I was out with the boys - Chicken McNuggets when we were at McDonalds (he ate them), and ham & cheese sandwiches at Panera (he ate that as well). Once Daniel started eating non-baby food, he ate meat as well, both at daycare and when he was out with me.
During the divorce, this became an issue after I started buying meat at the store - not anything like steaks, but since I spent every night and all weekend at home every week with the boys, I bought a lot of hot pockets and other prepared foods that included meat. One particular day I was having lunch with the boys at home - I believe I made them peanut butter and jelly while I had a ham and cheese hot pocket. Leo and Daniel wanted pieces of my sandwich, which I was giving them (and they were eating) when Karen came home from whatever she was doing and saw the boys eating ham. She got upset, demanding I not let the boys eat meat. We got into a big argument with no resolution. A couple of days later my attorney received a letter from her attorney threatening legal action regarding the 'vegetarian issue'. We responded with the facts, and the issue died for the time being.
It later came up again while meeting with the Guardian Ad Litem - he asked me questions about what happened - I told him my belief that it was a choice for the boys to make on their own, and he agreed with me.
After the divorce when we switched daycare providers, the boys continued to be offered meat at school. I also routinely give them meat at home, although Leo has developed an aversion to hot dogs. Then, a couple of months ago, I remember first hearing Leo say that he was a vegetarian. I thought it was just something he had heard Karen say and didn't think much of it. He has since repeated it again a few times, but I didn't think it was a big deal, as kids often repeat things they hear.
But now, its a serious issue. Leo skipped a meal at school. And, I believe he is being brainwashed by Karen into believing he does not eat meat. I sent Karen an e-mail on Friday demanding she stop her actions and explain to Leo that it is his choice. Meanwhile, I'm thinking I am going to take Leo to the grocery store and spend some time showing him all of the different foods there are, including the meat section, and that all of the foods offer different protein and vitamins for us to grow healthy and strong. Ultimately, it will be Leo's choice, but I don't think that either of us should make that choice for him. If we were both vegetarians and raised him that way, that would be different. But since we have opposite beliefs on the matter, neither of us should force our beliefs on him.
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Pluto
Leo and I carried on the following conversation tonight:
Leo: "Daddy, what is the name of the first planet?"
Me: "Mercury."
Leo: "Okay. So first there's the Sun. Then Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune and Pluto."
Me: "Wow, Leo, you know all your planets."
Leo just smiled, and then said, "Daddy, I've got a great idea. Let's go to Pluto!"
Me: "Well, I don't know, Leo. Its pretty cold on Pluto."
Leo thought a minute, then said, "That's okay, Daddy. I'll bring my sled."
Leo: "Daddy, what is the name of the first planet?"
Me: "Mercury."
Leo: "Okay. So first there's the Sun. Then Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune and Pluto."
Me: "Wow, Leo, you know all your planets."
Leo just smiled, and then said, "Daddy, I've got a great idea. Let's go to Pluto!"
Me: "Well, I don't know, Leo. Its pretty cold on Pluto."
Leo thought a minute, then said, "That's okay, Daddy. I'll bring my sled."
Monday, March 17, 2008
Saturday, March 15, 2008
Haircuts
Took the boys for their haircuts this morning. I actually got the idea from Leo, who asked me yesterday when his next haircut was going to be. I, in turn, asked him whether he felt he needed one (he did). And he said, "Daddy, I think its time I got a haircut."
So, while the snow was falling here this morning, I got the kids into the car and drove over to SuperCuts. Now, they had both been there before - it was the scene of Daniel's first ever haircut. (Leo's first was at Snip Itz - a place I don't recommend.) Sometimes the kids get balloons after their haircuts - sometimes lollipops - oftentimes both! As we pulled up to the SuperCuts, Leo started yelling from the back seat, "No, Daddy. Not this one. I want to go to the other haircut store!" I turned around and asked him what he meant, and he said, "The one in Greenport!"
Greenport is in New York - down at the east end of the north fork of Long Island. Greenport is best known (by my kids) as the place with the carousel. Hull also gets the same recognition. Greenport is also known for their large population of people of hispanic origin (namely, Mexicans), who work as laborors on all the wealthy Long Island and Shelter Island estates. The boys' mother took them to visit her mother a couple of months ago - she lives in Cutchogue, on Long Island, and during that trip was when the boys got their last haircut. So, whatever 'haircut store' they went to must have left an impression on Leo, because he absolutely refused to go into SuperCuts.
Daniel, meanwhile, jumped out of the car and practically ran into the place. I had to drag Leo through the snow, kicking and screaming. Once inside, Daniel had his jacket off, ready to go. I had to pull Leo's coat off as he tried to run away from me. He was screaming, "No, Daddy, no! I want to go to Greenport!"
I finally got Leo settled down by giving him one of his stock cars to play with (I usually carry an extra one in my pocket, just in case), while Daniel got his hair cut first. Daniel did pretty well, up until the first cut with the clippers. I ended up having to hold his head down so he didn't fidget while the hair stylist did a decent job with the clippers. Then it was scissors-time, and Daniel held his head up straight, very proud. He ended up with a pretty good haircut.
Then it was Leo's turn. While I was with Daniel, Leo had put his coat back on and was grumbling to himself in the corner couch in the waiting area. He tried to run away from me - I caught him, pulled off his coat (again), and carried him to the hair stylist. Leo ended up sitting on my lap - I held his head while the stylist cut his hair. That was hard to do and, in the end, Leo's haircut wasn't all that good.
I normally would have left the store as soon as Leo started acting up. Sometimes its just not worth it - and better to avoid having to use force to get them to do something. But haircuts are one of those things that their mother seems to think I don't do unless she specifically asks me, which she used to do. The haircuts they got in Greenport may have been the first time she actually took them herself. Their hair was pretty long, though, and this morning was a good time to get it done.
After Leo was through, they both got lollipops, and were all smiles. Leo started showing off his stock car to some of the other people waiting to get their hair cut, while I paid the bill. Don't know what their experience in Greenport was, but this was one I'd rather forget.
So, while the snow was falling here this morning, I got the kids into the car and drove over to SuperCuts. Now, they had both been there before - it was the scene of Daniel's first ever haircut. (Leo's first was at Snip Itz - a place I don't recommend.) Sometimes the kids get balloons after their haircuts - sometimes lollipops - oftentimes both! As we pulled up to the SuperCuts, Leo started yelling from the back seat, "No, Daddy. Not this one. I want to go to the other haircut store!" I turned around and asked him what he meant, and he said, "The one in Greenport!"
Greenport is in New York - down at the east end of the north fork of Long Island. Greenport is best known (by my kids) as the place with the carousel. Hull also gets the same recognition. Greenport is also known for their large population of people of hispanic origin (namely, Mexicans), who work as laborors on all the wealthy Long Island and Shelter Island estates. The boys' mother took them to visit her mother a couple of months ago - she lives in Cutchogue, on Long Island, and during that trip was when the boys got their last haircut. So, whatever 'haircut store' they went to must have left an impression on Leo, because he absolutely refused to go into SuperCuts.
Daniel, meanwhile, jumped out of the car and practically ran into the place. I had to drag Leo through the snow, kicking and screaming. Once inside, Daniel had his jacket off, ready to go. I had to pull Leo's coat off as he tried to run away from me. He was screaming, "No, Daddy, no! I want to go to Greenport!"
I finally got Leo settled down by giving him one of his stock cars to play with (I usually carry an extra one in my pocket, just in case), while Daniel got his hair cut first. Daniel did pretty well, up until the first cut with the clippers. I ended up having to hold his head down so he didn't fidget while the hair stylist did a decent job with the clippers. Then it was scissors-time, and Daniel held his head up straight, very proud. He ended up with a pretty good haircut.
Then it was Leo's turn. While I was with Daniel, Leo had put his coat back on and was grumbling to himself in the corner couch in the waiting area. He tried to run away from me - I caught him, pulled off his coat (again), and carried him to the hair stylist. Leo ended up sitting on my lap - I held his head while the stylist cut his hair. That was hard to do and, in the end, Leo's haircut wasn't all that good.
I normally would have left the store as soon as Leo started acting up. Sometimes its just not worth it - and better to avoid having to use force to get them to do something. But haircuts are one of those things that their mother seems to think I don't do unless she specifically asks me, which she used to do. The haircuts they got in Greenport may have been the first time she actually took them herself. Their hair was pretty long, though, and this morning was a good time to get it done.
After Leo was through, they both got lollipops, and were all smiles. Leo started showing off his stock car to some of the other people waiting to get their hair cut, while I paid the bill. Don't know what their experience in Greenport was, but this was one I'd rather forget.
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
Still waiting for offers
The house has been on the market for 3 weeks now. I'm going to have another open house this weekend. Keep your fingers and toes crossed!
Monday, March 3, 2008
3-3 Video of the week
This was made by my nephew Sam. He is 17 and aspires to be a filmmaker.
Some of you may want to turn the volume down. Others may want to turn the volume up. Some of you may not want to relive what happened on 9/11. Its your choice.
Some of you may want to turn the volume down. Others may want to turn the volume up. Some of you may not want to relive what happened on 9/11. Its your choice.
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