17 Again

Yesterday went out to the movie and saw "17 Again". This is a movie about a guy that gets a chance to be 17 again. The twist is he doesn’t go back in time, but is about the same age as his teenage kids. This movie stars Mathew Perry (as Mike O’donell) and Leslie Mann (as Scarlett O’donell). The movie opens with a young Mike O’donell having his big day as a high school basketball star. In the crowd is a college basketball scout. If he does well then he will get a scholarship to college. Before the game we see young Mike O’donell talking with his girlfriend. She has something that she wants to tell him, but is reluctant to tell him before his big game. Finally we see them taking then it is game time. The game starts and Mike gets the opening tip. His girlfriend is leaving the Gym and he drops the ball and trots off the court. They talk and she has informed him that she is pregnant. He says the baby is the only thing that matters.


Fast forward about 17 years in the future and we have adult Mike and Scarlett who are getting a divorce. Mike is offered a chance to go back and do things over and be 17 again. Mike says he wants to do it and zap he is 17 again only he and his teenage daughter and son are all the same age and his soon to be ex-wife is still in her mid thirties. He gets the chance to interact with his children in the high school environment and fix the situation with his wife. He has to make the choice again to get the college basketball scholarship or go after the woman he loves.


I liked this movie and highly recommend it for your viewing pleasure. It does beg the questions "Would you do your life over if you had the opportunity?". I have asked my self-this question many times. If I had to be 17 again in today’s day and time I don’t think I would. Sometimes I feel like I would if I could go back in time with the knowledge I have now, but then I look at my son and daughter and if I changed anything I wouldn’t have them. At this point I feel like what I have been through is worth it for my kids. How would you feel about doing things over again?


Click here for a video trailer.

The simple things in life are FREE!

Today was like any other day. I got up and got ready for work. As I started to get into my car I noticed the morning sky and the colors in it. I felt compelled to take out my camera phone and take this photo of the sky. Yes, it was a little dark. I don't know what it is with me a the current time, but simple things in life seem to be the thing I am noticing now. Am I just getting old? I guess as one of the country music songs says "The simple things in life are free". And Yes, it was a great day. The weather was warm and sunny. A great way to start off my week of vacation.

Sometimes we have to answer the tough questions!

Sometimes in life you have to answer the tough questions. First off I had a really good weekend this past weekend with the kids. I had the best Friday I had ever had with them. My ex-wife did something right the past week as they were both really happy. My son is doing better in school. I too am working to make their time with me the best that it can be.

Now, Sunday I was taking the kids over to Burger King to meet a friend. This friend has three boys and my kids play really well with those kids. On the way to Burger King we were passing buy some houses and my daughter says, "I wish we could have a house like that for me, Dakota, you Daddy, and mommy. Daddy why were you and mommy fighting in the truck". Now the day I left my ex-wife we had a big argument on the way home in the pickup truck that we owned at the time. I figured my daughter was to young to remember that, but I was wrong. She would have only been about three years old.

As I said before, sometimes you have to answer the tough questions. My answer was that mommy and daddy didn’t get along. This had nothing to do with you guys did it? The answer from them was "no". I then went on to explain that it had nothing to do with them. Daddy and mommy would never be together again. Maybe someday mommy would have someone new in her life and daddy might have someone new in his life. Daddy figured it would be just him that he didn’t think he would go for it again. We would have to just make the best of things as they are. I am sure they didn’t understand all of what I was telling them. As my uncle Orbin’s wife said once the damage is done it can not be undone. There would be no point for my ex-wife and I to get back together.

I wish my kids could have had the childhood that I had. It wasn't perfect nothing is, but I have fond memories of it. Unfortunately that isn’t possible. What is important now is that we make them as happy as possible. Get them used to the idea that mommy and daddy won’t be in the same house and that they have two homes. We have to be as fair with each other and civil as possible for their sake. Hopefully she understands that now and we can work together to make sure they grow up to be good people. I wasn’t sure I should post this, but it was just something on my mind. Things seem to be going in a good direction at the moment so I hope that continues.

How dumb is this?

The above photo was in the Saturday April 18, 2009 Fort Wayne Journal Gazette. It reminded me of something I saw the other day. I was behind (thank God) this person driving across the parking lot. They had an ice cream cone in one hand and their cell phone in the other. They were actively clicking keys in an attempt to send a text message (why it couldn't wait or why they couldn't stop is unknown to me). I wondered as I followed them across the parking lot if someone walked out in front of them or if say I fell in the street in front of them would they see that. I also wondered if when we got to the main street they would stop or continue to travel out into the line of traffic. As luck would have it they stopped at the main street and put the cell phone down when they pulled out. But I guess I have to ask "How dumb is this?". I don't think we need stricter cell phone laws, just a little common sense. This is just my opinion.

The guard dog

Went to the Dollar store and Walmart with my sister this afternoon. As we were leaving Walmart I looked across Washington Center road into a business complex and I noticed this cat waliking infront of one of the businesses. I also saw this statue of the dog you see in the picture. The cat was making it's way down infront of one of the business when he spotted this dog. Well, the cat immediately retreats and looks back to see if the dog is following him. When he noticed the dog wasn't following he sneaks back down that way, pokes his head up to take a look and retreats again. He did this several times until he was satisfied that it wasn't a real dog. He then made his way infront of the dog and on his way. Needless to say, I had the best laugh I have had in a while watching this cat run from the would-be german sheppard.

The tale of two rooms

This afternoon I got a call from Satan (My ex-wife). Sorry, but I think the Satan reference fits at this point. I had just got home and was preparing to list some of my model railroad stuff on Ebay. I have $369 in state taxes due on April 15, 2009 and no money to pay this with. My ex-wife would go crying to her family or anyone she could find to get the money. I choose to not involve my family any more than I have to in my problems.

The call was that my son got in trouble again at school. My ex was letting me know that she was canceling letting him ride the four wheeler with ICY (the Komet Hockey Mascot) on Wednesday April 8, 2009. She said that they (the school) want help handling him and that they are talking counseling for him. They also said that they felt that my daughter might have the same issues. I informed my ex-wife that she already has those issues. Satan’s response was "It isn’t that bad yet". My response was "It will be". Then I went into the problem doesn’t appear to be at this end that my ex should examine what is happening there. She (Satan) got up set, got somewhat verbally abusive, accused me of not helping, and hung up the phone. I asked to talk with my son and my request has been ignored at this point. These are my kids too and I should be allowed to talk with him or them at anytime. Now, "I am not a perfect person. Nor am I the perfect parent, but I am attempting to do the best that I can. I want to be the best Dad I can be".

The main thing I would have you look at is his room. When we first started the divorce process, my ex-wife said "All you need is a one bedroom apartment". I said "No, the kids need their own space at my place". I have way more space here than I need, but I have a home for my kids and me. my son not only keeps his room clean and neat he did all the decorating in the room. I was invited into my ex-wife’s home and his room was a total wreck. I couldn’t even see the floor. His room at his mom’s said, "I am unhappy here". His room here says he is happy. My goal in life is not to cause my ex-wife problems with him, my goal is to be a better father to both my kids. I don’t know what I can do to help at this point.

The things we discover and the shame we bear!

Today, I went to my Aunt Sandy’s funeral. Part of the funeral was a sermon delivered by the minister (preacher we call them). The message was that things you can buy in this lifetime are not important. Part of the message was if you feel like your life is messed up then clean up your act and turn it all over to God. Now, this minister must have been reading my mind, because I was sitting there feeling like I need to get my act together to be a good example to my kids and to be a better father for them. I need to get my kids into church. I was sitting there feeling like my life is a total mess. I have been for sometime feeling like things you can get in this life are not important. Maybe this is just my age showing, or maybe I am just now figuring out what life is about. Now sure at this point if I am figuring it out or not. Some things just don’t seem to be that important to me any more.

I came home today thinking I needed to go out and buy a large print bible. Reading the bible has been one of those things I said I would do someday. Feeling like if I wait to many more days that I might run out someday I thought now might be a good time to start. Now, these tired old eyes can’t see very well anymore, but I knew I had a bible on the counter in the family room. So since cash is not readily available I thought I would open the one I had up to see if I could read the print in it with my glasses on. Now, when you reveal something about your self-my sister calls it "outing yourself". So, I am "outing myself" here in front of God and everyone. I had asked for this bible for Christmas and my sister had bought it for me and given it to me one Christmas Eve. Much to my surprise and dismay it was given to me on December 24, 1990. Yes, almost 19 years ago, and I have opened it only maybe three or four times. This bible is brand new in the box. In most cases having something this old in this good of condition is a good thing. In this case it is shameful. It should show sings of use and wear, not look brand new. Shame on me!

Now, I can’t remember if I read any out of this or not, but there is a bookmark in it with the lion and lamb on it with a verse from Mathew 5:8,9 "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God". I have read some of the New Testament in a NIV bible a few years back. The bible she gave me is the King James Version, which at times is a little harder to read (it is the version that my church believes in).
I remember seeing my grandmother’s (Lula) bible and she had births, deaths, and her marriage information written in the bible. I had intended to write the information into the appropriate pages of the bible when I got married back in 1992. The page that lists the marriage information is blank. I will most likely leave it that way even though I was married for fifteen years. I will most likely leave the family tree page blank as well. The problem I had with the marriage was, I was married, the other person, I feel, was just playing around. I don’t feel that we had a real marriage. I will most likely write my son’s and daughters birth information on the birth page. Maybe I am just a sentimental old softy, but this seems like one of the lost traditions that need to be honored. For the last little while I feel like I have floundered around not sure of what I want to do with the rest of my life. I think it may be time to let God take the lead and figure out where I should end up. Who knows how things will end up for me. Hopefully, I have another twenty or so years to go. I would like to be around to see what kind of people my children end up to be. Hopefully I can help get them turned around and the will grow up to be good people. Maybe I will even be around to see my grandkids.