Nirvana is supposedly the ultimate state of peace achieved by extinguishing all ones desires and passions.
I find that I am happiest and feel most fulfilled when I have worthwhile goals and projects that I am working on - things that I feel a passion for. There are a lot of little things, but lately, I've been able to work on preparing myself for a 'project' that I have wanted to do for a very long time - being a father.
I have never wanted to do anything as much as I have wanted to be a father. I can hardly express how excited I am. I know that there will be a lot of work and difficult challenges to deal with, but I'm looking forward to it all.
In a lot of ways I feel like I have been in a bit of a holding pattern for a few years, waiting for this part of my life to begin. I don't think I'm quite ready as far as the accumulation of the gear and other stuff goes. But I'm not really worried about that stuff. That's easy to fix.
I am looking forward to September (the due date - I know, it's just an estimate). I think it will be the best part of my life. Certainly not Nirvana - it'll be much better.
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
The Joys of Telecommuting
I telecommute. I live in Massachusetts and work for a company based in Philadelphia. I actually started working for them when we lived there, and when I told them I was going to be moving they said they would allow me to work from home.
I LOVE working from home. I'm actually one of those people that gets more work done from home than I did when I went into the office. Far fewer distractions. One of the best things about working from home is that "home" can be anywhere. Last week I went to Pittsburgh with Rebecca, and didn't have to take any time off work. I worked from the hotel, then went out and explored Pittsburgh in the evenings and on the weekend.
Actually, the trip to Pittsburgh was doubly enjoyable because it was a business trip for Rebecca - she was attending a conference - and so most of our expenses were covered. We paid for my airfare, my food, and any additional shopping.
By the way, Pittsburgh is a beautiful city. It was clean, the people were friendly, and the weather cooperated nicely. For some reason, I had imagined it would be dirty and run down - maybe it's because I associated it with an ailing steel industry - it was not at all what I expected.
Back to telecommuting - one of the other things that I like about it is that I get to see Rebecca on the days that she doesn't have to go in to teach. We often get to have lunch together and chat during the day.
$3.78/gal for regular unleaded. 'Nuff said.
And then there's the time I gain from not having to spend it commuting.
And finally, there's the fact that we think we will be able to get away without having to get daycare for the potato next year, despite both of us having full-time jobs.
I LOVE telecommuting!
I LOVE working from home. I'm actually one of those people that gets more work done from home than I did when I went into the office. Far fewer distractions. One of the best things about working from home is that "home" can be anywhere. Last week I went to Pittsburgh with Rebecca, and didn't have to take any time off work. I worked from the hotel, then went out and explored Pittsburgh in the evenings and on the weekend.
Actually, the trip to Pittsburgh was doubly enjoyable because it was a business trip for Rebecca - she was attending a conference - and so most of our expenses were covered. We paid for my airfare, my food, and any additional shopping.
By the way, Pittsburgh is a beautiful city. It was clean, the people were friendly, and the weather cooperated nicely. For some reason, I had imagined it would be dirty and run down - maybe it's because I associated it with an ailing steel industry - it was not at all what I expected.
Back to telecommuting - one of the other things that I like about it is that I get to see Rebecca on the days that she doesn't have to go in to teach. We often get to have lunch together and chat during the day.
$3.78/gal for regular unleaded. 'Nuff said.
And then there's the time I gain from not having to spend it commuting.
And finally, there's the fact that we think we will be able to get away without having to get daycare for the potato next year, despite both of us having full-time jobs.
I LOVE telecommuting!
Thursday, May 1, 2008
High Maintenance
I love my wife dearly, but I am not blinded by that love. I recognize that she is "high maintenance." I probably indulge her a little too much. However, with her pregnancy, she has reached another level.
She has been getting very specific cravings: home made smoothies, grilled cheese sandwiches, plain chocolate shakes from Ben & Jerry's, etc.
Last week, as I was preparing for my business trip to Philadelphia, she said, "I have a ridiculous request." It was late at night, and I thought she might want another Ben & Jerry's shake. But no, she had just read my sister's post about water ice and decided she wanted Philadelphia style water ice.
We discussed whether it would even be possible to transport water ice from Philly to Boston via a 6 hour car ride, and eventually decided that it would probably work reasonably well if we put some ice packs in a cooler. So, I took those things with me to Philly.
Unfortunately, I didn't plan very well, and at quarter of ten the night before I planned to leave in the morning, I was reminded that the water ice stands would not be open until later in the day. I rushed out in hopes that they closed at 10 or later, but on Tuesdays, they closed at 9. Foiled!
However, I heard that there were a few water ice stands in Connecticut. I looked online, and found a stand just off an exit that was right on my way home!
So, Rebecca got her water ice. And it even stayed nearly completely frozen thanks to the ice packs.
As I started writing this, Becca asked, "Why do you like making me happy so much?" My response was, "Should I not?"
She has been getting very specific cravings: home made smoothies, grilled cheese sandwiches, plain chocolate shakes from Ben & Jerry's, etc.
Last week, as I was preparing for my business trip to Philadelphia, she said, "I have a ridiculous request." It was late at night, and I thought she might want another Ben & Jerry's shake. But no, she had just read my sister's post about water ice and decided she wanted Philadelphia style water ice.
We discussed whether it would even be possible to transport water ice from Philly to Boston via a 6 hour car ride, and eventually decided that it would probably work reasonably well if we put some ice packs in a cooler. So, I took those things with me to Philly.
Unfortunately, I didn't plan very well, and at quarter of ten the night before I planned to leave in the morning, I was reminded that the water ice stands would not be open until later in the day. I rushed out in hopes that they closed at 10 or later, but on Tuesdays, they closed at 9. Foiled!
However, I heard that there were a few water ice stands in Connecticut. I looked online, and found a stand just off an exit that was right on my way home!
So, Rebecca got her water ice. And it even stayed nearly completely frozen thanks to the ice packs.
As I started writing this, Becca asked, "Why do you like making me happy so much?" My response was, "Should I not?"
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
Our Potato
Earlier on in Rebecca's pregnancy, all she wanted to eat was potatoes. So, I started referring to the baby-to-be as 'the Potato'.
So, here is one of the ultrasound pics of the Potato.
We also found out the baby's sex (or at least an 85% chance of the sex) - we will be having a boy! Which means we will never have to buy clothes, because a good friend of Rebecca's just had TRIPLET boys a year or so ago. However, it does mean that choosing a name will be slightly more difficult. We do not want anything plain like 'John,' or overly popular like 'Ethan' has been for the past couple of years. So, we have some thinking to do...
(We are in no way fishing for gifts here, as we are sure this baby will be well spoiled by the people that have already insisted upon getting things for him, but if you insist, Rebecca wanted me to say that we are not interested in overly gendered things, and plan to have many different colors besides blue. I would also add that we will very happily take used items. Reduce - Reuse - Recycle!)
So, here is one of the ultrasound pics of the Potato.
We also found out the baby's sex (or at least an 85% chance of the sex) - we will be having a boy! Which means we will never have to buy clothes, because a good friend of Rebecca's just had TRIPLET boys a year or so ago. However, it does mean that choosing a name will be slightly more difficult. We do not want anything plain like 'John,' or overly popular like 'Ethan' has been for the past couple of years. So, we have some thinking to do...
(We are in no way fishing for gifts here, as we are sure this baby will be well spoiled by the people that have already insisted upon getting things for him, but if you insist, Rebecca wanted me to say that we are not interested in overly gendered things, and plan to have many different colors besides blue. I would also add that we will very happily take used items. Reduce - Reuse - Recycle!)
Sunday, April 13, 2008
Happiness
I have another blog that I use to voice my political & social views. I think I need another (this one) to share my personal stories - I guess we'll see how much I 'need' it by how much I use it. :-)
I am happy. Not in a giddy, always smiling, outgoing kind of way, but rather in a quiet, deep, persistent kind of way. I love my life. I am married to an incredible woman, we have jobs that allow us to see a lot of each other, and we're going to have a baby in September. I could be happy with much less, and I have so much more.
Sure, work can be stressful, we always have several unfinished projects, there are a few more bills than we would like, and we sometimes have to deal with difficult people - but that's just life. That doesn't affect the kind of happiness I have.
My wife, Rebecca, and I
I am happy. Not in a giddy, always smiling, outgoing kind of way, but rather in a quiet, deep, persistent kind of way. I love my life. I am married to an incredible woman, we have jobs that allow us to see a lot of each other, and we're going to have a baby in September. I could be happy with much less, and I have so much more.
Sure, work can be stressful, we always have several unfinished projects, there are a few more bills than we would like, and we sometimes have to deal with difficult people - but that's just life. That doesn't affect the kind of happiness I have.
My wife, Rebecca, and I
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