Just Like My Father

T1 got into some serious trouble at school the other day. He was confused by the difference between being in control versus being independent. He was so busy arguing and throwing attitude at teachers, he eventually not only lost control of the situation but control of himself as well.

I can already hear some of you thinking, "Here it begins…This is a separation thing. The boy needs attention." That might be some of it. Let us remember, though, that he is 12 going on 28. Besides, I see this as a positive thing. T1 is learning to deal with things on his own. He would go through this no matter if I were at home or not. The important thing is he is surrounded by people that know him, love him and with momentary self-inflicted exceptions respect him.

He now understands a little bit better that the price of taking help is not paid for by loss of independence. I am not so naïve that he gets it completely; however, a day or two out of class on suspension will certainly give him some time to mull it over.

Title by The Violent Femmes

Folsom Prison Blues

New York Times - National

College Dwellers Outnumber the Imprisoned

By SAM ROBERTS

Published: September 27, 2007

In a reversal from 2000, more Americans over all now live in college dormitories than in prisons.

What else could I possibly add to that.

Title by Johnny Cash

New York State of Mind

I know it is weird, but watching TV shows about New York while looking out my window at Manhattan is sort of cool, geeky granted, but cool none the less.

Title by Billy Joel

In the Air Tonight

I'm thinking about picking up a Verizon AirCard. It strikes me as terribly convenient to be anywhere and have computer access to the internet. Unfortunately, it is still very pricey.

What I really need (nudge nudge wink wink) is a decent GPS. I get turned around in these subdivisions and neighborhoods here and suddenly find myself on a new highway going in the opposite direction. It was fun at first, now it is just frustrating.

Maybe a new bike would be better.

We really locked down the spending the past few months, the last year and a half really. I have to fight the temptation to splurge on convenience items now. Of course, what would be best is to just put the money in savings; but, what kind of fun is that! Never worry, reason will prevail, ho hum.

Title by Phil Collins

A Day In The Life

Amy was out here the weekend before last. She got the whirlwind tour of Westhampton, Quogue, Riverhead, Baiting Hollow and the major roads in Islip, Ronkonkama, Mastic and Shirley.

On Saturday, we drove around the area, enjoyed champagne, chocolates and strawberries in our room and had an insanely expensive dinner at Q in Quogue Saturday night.

On Sunday, we shopped at Tanger Mall in Riverhead, dropped in on a few open houses and spent a good portion of the day just hanging out in our room.

Here is some marriage advice from a long-distance husband; never take for granted the time just sitting in a room together.

Title by The Beatles

Jimi Thing

It's Sunday. This is traditionally what I consider "Family Day". It is the one day a week that I reserve for just us. After church, if there is nothing already planned, just about anything goes. We've been known to end up as far as the Mississippi River on some Sunday road trips, Cave of the Mounds in Blue Mound, WI (yes, Milwaukeeans, that is where Blue Mound Road eventually gets to), IKEA at Woodfield Mall, Chicago Museum of Science and Industry, Two Rivers for ice cream sundaes. We, generally, travel very well together. It is good family time. We can also just spend the day at home hanging out.

Long Island will give us new "Sunday Explorers" territory. It is about 120 miles long and 15 to 20 miles wide. There is, of course, NYC at the west end. There are vineyards, shopping and plenty of water and beaches at the east end. In between is what really amounts to one big suburb for NYC. It is similar to what the Milwaukee/Chicago I94 corridor looks like now or the Denver/Colorado Springs I25 corridor is beginning to look or pick your 45 to 60 mile stretch out of any major metropolitan area.

It has been a lazy weekend for me. I've taken to squatting in the surprisingly few coffee shops around the area. My favorite remains Sunset Café in Westhampton, though I think the girls might start to think me a bit creepy. You know me; I'll strike up a chat with anyone. In anticipation, I found another bakery/coffee shop in Riverhead yesterday. They have a nice comfy couch in the corner that keeps me away from the staff, though the coffee isn't nearly as good. I'll move between them until I find another to throw in the mix.

Surprisingly, there are no coffee shops in South Hampton to speak of. It would have been fun to watch the parade of people there over the rim of a latte. East Hampton, where the stars all hang out, is a long drive at 45 minutes or more for a cup of coffee.

There are, of course, the obligatory Starbucks. However, I refuse to pay good money for mediocre coffee and then have to pay $20 or more for monthly Wi-Fi. "Free the Internet", that's my motto.

Title by Dave Matthews Band

Suddenly I See

This may be old news for some of you.

Starting the last week of August, the Ps and I opened negotiations to make my placement with them permanent. The negotiations wrapped up on September 13^th with me taking a contract to be their Household Manager. The benefit package is particularly nice for any industry and very good for this business.

For anyone keeping track, it was 18 weeks from when I left my job to being hired in a new industry. I am sure someday it will seem a speck of time. Right now, it feels like 18 months. The 2 months of training and the month of waiting seem like they took place so long ago. As I've stated before, some days on the property are a week and then the week flies by. It is also 18 weeks since I spent more than 2 days in my own home. I miss my space.

Ma cherè and I put all of our faith in this being the right course of action. I still feel this is where I am supposed to be. I truly enjoy what I am doing. Do not get me wrong; it is still work. There are really good days and really bad days. There are days I go to my room wiped and whipped. 10 to 12 hour days are the norm. There have been a few 14s and just as few 8s. This is management, after all.

There is still a lot of work to be done to reunite our family. I will also have to mend the stress my being gone so long has placed on the Ts and our family.

Next up, of course, is relocating ma cherè and the Ts to Long Island.

Title by K.T. Tunstal