Sabbatical

I tend to try to talk Marta in to a sabbatical year more and more often. I would like for us to sell our stuff, jump on Katie and spend a year or so in the Caribbean and there abouts to come together as a family.

We are together all right but some of the memories and skills and fights and hard times we would have to deal with is a thrill I'm searching for.

Ultimately I would like to sell all we have and go around the world on a 3-5 year voyage. Marta knows this and promised me before we were married that she's on board with it. I never gave her a time frame nor did she give me one, we're not dead yet and in all honesty I had after kids in mind.

Then I came across some articles about cruising with kids and I met some cruising kids and their parents.

We had a long talk about it the other night and Marta listened to me, had some really good points of why not and promised to think about it.

The next day she tells me that if I really want to I can take a year off by my self and her and the kids would be right here to welcome me back.

Not what I had in mind but I will hold this against her if I ever get this opportunity, because this I will do in a heart beat with a big smile on my face.

Why I love my wife

All she does is read a book. And just to watch her react to it makes my heart pound and my stomack tickle.

No one else in this world is so simple, honest, caring or more beautiful than my Marta.

I find it fascinating and I whish I had a tiny bit of it in me.

I was lucky to capture this moment on camera, most I have in my memory.

And for every one of these moments I find myself to love her even more.

Happy Halloween pics

Happy Halloween

A Buzz Lightyear and a Witch that came back home with tons of candy.

A poor turn out down our cul-de-sac has left us with about 8 pounds of candy left.

My stinking neighbor out did me again ( the guy that has the LED lights for Christmas), he showed Halloween cartoons on his drive way, he had his stupid projector upside down in the window above the garage.

Did I mention he had surround sound in the yard?

I did as best I could screaming from our yard, we have the good candy not the cheap stuff.

No effect on the kids what so ever.

Or could it be that grandpa drove his limousine and parked it in our drive way?

Maybe more people than he thinks don't want to be associated with the darn thing.

We all know grandma rather run naked down the street than being seen in the limo.

First frost

I had to sit and wait in Betty this morning due to some ice on the windshield. The fair starts tomorrow and as a letter in the mail it has got cold.

Long sleeve undershirt, a t shirt, fleece sweater and long pants. Haven't worn that since March.

Jeep on steroids

I bought the kids a used battery operated Jeep last year from an add in the paper. It has reverse and two speeds forward, slow and a tiny bit faster.

Well, the battery died and it has been sitting in the garage unused, Alex has bugged me for a while to fix it. He tells me that real Vikings would have had it fixed a long time ago. He's right about that so the three of us went this weekend and got a new battery.

Now the darn thing has reverse, not so slow and way too freaking fast. I also have a new dent in Betty thanks to Fia ( you can't possibly blame me for this, she's the one who drove into it with the Jeep).

To wait

It's very hard at times to wait for some one that doesn't have his/her priorities straight, especially if they are the age of 4 and 2, to top if off they're humans.

All I want to do is to play some ball.

Hang out

To hang out is a great thing, especially if the people you hang out with are great people and that they get along.

Tonight was such a night. We had two families over from Alex and Fia's school that Marta and I have hung with but not all of us together. We had a great time. All the kids got along ( we knew that) and we men connected immediately ( that was the question) over grilling the food. Who can go wrong there?

I'm just reminding myself how fortunate we are, to be able to have people over and laugh so hard over trivial jokes that somehow connects us where we are in life. I'm very blessed.

Oh, the theme of the night, Greek, Marta makes a spread like you can not believe. Who knows, you might be next to be invited....

Movie night

After a long and very rainy day we did pizza, popcorn and a movie night. Blankets out on the floor with plenty of pillows. Nice.

The kids wanted to watch this movie.

Police

Last night I was just about done at the Clubhouse when some one knocked on the door nearly scaring me to an early death. It was one of the regulars who had observed some weird behavior from a few teenagers.

I told him that I would look in to it and satisfied with that he left.

I turned all lights of and checked the doors and set the alarm. I jumped in Betty and drove through the parking lot, crossed the street and up the drive to the fitness center.

As my head lights lit up the asphalt in front of me I saw some sort of contraption in the road way. It seemed to be a skate board ramp/jump aimed so that one would land on the practice green.

I got out of the car and started to take the jump down when a SUV pulled in behind me and some teens jumped out wondering what the f*** I was doing with their jump.

I questioned who they were and if they knew they were trespassing on private property which they sort of acknowledged but one of them live here so they were in their rights. I off course informed them that so was not the case and questioned who would pay for damages to the green would they have jumped with their bikes up on to it.

This didn't sit so well with these youngsters and I was getting cursed more and more. I started to feel very uncomfortable as they surrounded me and I did what I guess a lot of people do. I called the police and gave the police the tag number of their car.

The teens got really pissed and a few wanted to take off before police arrived but I guess the driver of the car had done that before, he knew better to stay put than being chased by police.

Police arrived and got my input and spoke with the guys. I got the feel that the officers had come across these guys before and at the end let them go.

The teens hadn't done anything yet to destroy property but were about to and we all know it. At 9.00 o'clock at night there is no good explanation to jump bikes on a golf course green that is unlit.

I'm just glad I didn't get beat up, I'm way to old to take on some 17 year olds.

Kids

Our oldest is as you know very hairy. She sheds like no one else. Before we had #2 and #3 she got all the attention in the world.

Long walks, liver treats, organic food etc. She still gets all the goodies and nothing but organic. We have how ever added treats with glycosamine due to bad arthritis/bad hips.

You would think that Marta and I would get some appreciation for 8 years of this and still counting.

Hell no.

All the little shit cares about are #2 and #3. Every night she makes sure #3 falls asleep by laying in bed with her and when that task is accomplished she does the same with #2.

Then to top it off she patrols all night to our delight since she wakes us up just to make sure that we are alert and understands that this is top priority. Who does she think she is, bloody James Bond on a mission in North Korea?

Then I find these pictures and I know I have the best guardian ever, the little Milu.

Our Sunday in pictures

Thanks Ref

I'm not a big football fan but when the referee helps LSU to win over our Gamecocks I scream foul.

What in the world was he thinking?

Last nights conversation

I got a call when I picked up Marta's car from the repair shop.

Marta: Honey can you get some toilet bowl cleaner at Walmart?

Jonas: I can.

M: And some dark chocolate M&Ms?

J: I can.

Well they didn't have it and we needed some food for tomorrows ( today's) dinner so I stopped at Publix as well. They sure had her M&Ms and also a cheap red wine we like. As always I bought all the bottles they had which was three.

Then later on after the kids went to bed,

M: Can I have a glass of wine and some M&Ms?

J: Sure you can.

M: Wow, that's a lot of wine but only 5 M&Ms? You think I need to loose weight?

J: No, the M&Ms almost cost more than the wine so you better enjoy them.

M: You're kidding?

J: Nope.

M: More than the wine, that's crazy.

Customer appreciation

They had customer appreciation day last night at the marina. All 4 of us were supposed to go but the day was cold and rainy so when I told Marta to get ready she wondered if I thought she is nuts. I really did not want to answer that so the kids and I went with out her.

It was indeed cold and raining on and off. We had great barbecue with all the fixin's and grand conversations. The kids ate and behaved at their best, won every body's heart. We how ever didn't win a thing in the lottery, odd because a lot of people gave Alex and Fia their tickets.

The kids won the contest who has the most name tags and who can spill the most Gatorade. Not bad, not bad at all.

Hitler wine?

I hear it's flavor is dominant, aggressive, over powering and leave a bad after taste in your mouth.
It doesn't go well with Russian, Polish, Finnish, French, Italian or any other south European foods.












I just wonder, WTF made the producer think this would be a good label on a wine bottle?

Frog More Stew

Finally Friday. The boys and I are cooking some Frog more stew this afternoon here at work. A classic Low country dish that I highly recommend. A cold one to go with it, a piece of heaven.

	Frogmore Stew PREP TIME: 45 minutes SERVES: 12
	COMMENT: What is Frogmore Stew? It's a mixture of sausage, potatoes, corn and shrimp, seasoned with a prepared spice mix such as Old Bay seasoning, and boiled until everything is tender and the shrimp have turned pink. The name Frogmore is the names of an old fishing community on St. Helena Island, South Carolina. According to legend, a fisherman developed the recipe when he couldn't find fish for stew. He scavenged for leftovers, added what shrimp and crab he did catch, and the delicious result has become a hallmark recipe of the Low country. INGREDIENTS: 1/4 cup Old Bay seasoning 4 lbs small red potatoes 2 lbs kielbasa or hot, smoked line sausage, cut into 1½-inch slices 6 ears fresh corn, halved 4 lbs unpeeled, large fresh shrimp Additional Old Bay seasoning Commercial cocktail sauce METHOD: Fill large container of a propane cooker halfway with water; add 1/4 cup Old Bay seasoning. Bring to a boil, following manufacturer's instructions. Add potatoes, return to a boil, and cook 10 minutes. Add sausage and corn; return to a boil, and cook 10 minutes or until potatoes are tender. Add shrimp; cook 3 to 5 minutes or until shrimp turn pink. Remove with a slotted spoon onto a serving platter or newspaper-lined table. Serve with additional Old Bay seasoning and cocktail sauce. Note: Frogmore Stew may be cooked indoors in a large Dutch oven on a cook top surface, over high heat, if desired.

DHW

I'm real excited about this, check out my colleague Scott and our new product.

A night with dad

A night out with dad is not all that bad.














We went to Two Guy's Burgers and Fries.
















The kids split a cheese burger and a regular fry, which is more than the three of us can eat.
















I had a double bacon with jalapeno, mushrooms and grilled onions.
















After that we went to Alex's soccer practise. The gnats were out in full strength and his coaches decided this is the last practise, let's focus on the games. I think we're getting shafted but then again who am I? All I know is that he won't play in this league come December, then he finally gets to play her in Mt. P. I haven't voiced my opinion too loudly due to that I have a 2 year old that wants to play soccer PAPPA! Yes sweat heart I hear you and I promise that will happen.

Odd

What is odd is that one of my wife's friends is from Sweden and that my wife spends time with her and know her way better than me.

Or is it that the two of them and our kids get along real well?

Boy friend

If you ask Fia who her friend is she always says: Connor. We ran in to him Saturday and they spent a few hours together. They are too darn cute together.

Park Day

Yesterday was Daniel Island Park Day. The weather didn't cooperate, windy with a lot of rain showers so the crowds were not there. Good for us, no wait to anything but I feel for the vendors who very likely won't get any return on their efforts.

Wild animals, a petting zoo, face painting, balloons, make your own jewelry etc, etc.

A real working shrimp boat and our favorite, fresh local fried shrimp. They are so darn good, you just have to try them at first opportunity.

Our 8 year old

The kids, their friend Elisabeth, Milu and I went to the pet store the other night so that Milu could choose her birthday presents.















She got a football, two tennis balls ( one white, one pink), a bag of fillet Mignon treats and a bag of liver treats.

And we off course checked out all kinds of animals as well.

Facebook

Marta and I both have facebook accounts. We get poked and get friend requests a good bit. It is nice to hear from people in the past as it is equally nice to hear from people in our daily lives.

We see and upload photos and we get little tidbits and comments on our walls. All is nice and honky dory.

Then we have the part that I hate. There is a function that lets all your friends know what you're doing right now or looking forward to or what you think. I off course are sucked in to this so I gladly write, Jonas is looking forward to tomorrows race! And it always ends with an exclamation sign.

Who the hell really gives a crap about what I do or like? Or who thinks that I do?

As we don't have a joint facebook account, Marta and I we use this forum instead; Marta and Jonas...

Sigh

Bad economy and uncertainty about how the future is to be is all I think of. I turn on the news, open the paper and there it is like a slap in the face, Bad is getting worse. My stomach turns itself into a twisting knot that's on a roller coaster ride. I haven't slept in weeks.

I will get slightly drunk tonight, turn on some music from the past and dance with my wife. That'll clear my head.

Deep in thought

I passed a good friend of mine on the highway this afternoon. It's very easy to spot him, one he has the company logo on a big pick up truck and 2 two he always tows a trailer with easily recognizable equipment that he sell on it, hence the big pick up truck.

I honked like a madman and waived through my tinted windows and got just a stare back.

I thought at first: What the f***. How can you not recognize me?

Then I thought that maybe he is as deep in thought about the future ahead and how to be able to feed his family as I am. He might have the same grinding knot as I have in the stomach.

I hope that's not the case, I don't wish that upon anyone, it really sucks.

I would have rolled my window down if I could.
They really don't build Cadillacs as they used to, do they?

4.30 AM

My alarm rang out at this god forgotten hour this morning. Dressed, let the dog out and went to pick up my Mother in law. Dropped her at the airport and walked in at work 5.21 AM.

Since then I have spent all day looking at reorder points and purchase quantities. And I have adjusted some down. I have ~7000 items to look at. I have ~ 3000 left. And 1 hour 20 minutes left of my regular day. It will take me 3 hours to do this.

And after that I have to go to the Club House. I might be home 8.30PM. I'm tired. I want to take a nap.

This is a long day.

The race

Some early morning adjustments to the boat, long wait for the wind to fill in and a mediocre result at best.

But we had a great day on the water and a good bit of fun.






All photos taken by Chad N.